Board of Directors & Executive Team
Stratagem Board of Directors & Executive Team
The Stratagem Board of Directors and Executive Team work together to provide strategic oversight and expert-led guidance, ensuring clients receive the highest level of IP management.
The Board provides the high-level vision and industry expertise that drive our business, while our Executive Team brings this vision to life, ensuring our services are tailored, proactive, and always in our clients' best interests.
By combining deep knowledge of intellectual property law, business strategy, and software solutions, we go beyond IP management - we empower businesses to take control of their innovation, protect their assets, and unlock commercial opportunities.
Meet Our Board
Kristen Baker-Munton
Non-Executive Director
Kristen brings over 40 years of expertise in IT and intellectual property data management. As the founder of IPSS Ltd, he developed record management software that helped multinational corporations and law firms maximise their IP assets. Having supported Stratagem for years, he officially joined the Board in 2024, bringing a wealth of experience in software solutions and strategic IP management.
David George
Board Advisor
David brings deep experience across healthcare, diagnostics, and scientific innovation. He’s led global businesses – including Corning Medical – through major growth and acquisitions, and now supports ventures as an investor, advisor, and board member. His strategic insight makes him a valued voice on our Board.
Angus Hone
CEO
A KPMG-trained Chartered Accountant (FCA), Angus has worked for KPMG & GSK. He then completed an MBA at Cranfield School of Management and redirected his focus towards high-growth businesses; Angus founded and exited two businesses and has held a series of senior leadership roles across life science, medical diagnostics and also a defence-related company.
Oliver Leason
Oliver graduated from the University of Bath with a first-class degree in Civil Engineering. His academic studies spanned a broad range of disciplines, including renewable energy generation, fluid dynamics and fully integrated design projects.
Before entering the world of intellectual property, Oliver gained practical industry experience through a year-long placement at AECOM. There he worked as a structural engineer, contributing to the inspection and assessment of railway bridges to ensure compliance with safety and functionality standards. These experiences, combined with his problem-solving mindset and commercial awareness, have shaped his pragmatic and insightful approach to IP.
Our Executive Team
Meet Our Board
Kristen Baker-Munton
Non-Executive Director
Kristen brings over 40 years of expertise in IT and intellectual property data management. As the founder of IPSS Ltd, he developed record management software that helped multinational corporations and law firms maximise their IP assets. Having supported Stratagem for years, he officially joined the Board in 2024, bringing a wealth of experience in software solutions and strategic IP management.
David George
Board Advisor
David brings deep experience across healthcare, diagnostics, and scientific innovation. He’s led global businesses – including Corning Medical – through major growth and acquisitions, and now supports ventures as an investor, advisor, and board member. His strategic insight makes him a valued voice on our Board.
Sarah Grant
CEO & Principal Patent Attorney
As CEO, Sarah leads Stratagem’s day-to-day operations, ensuring the seamless delivery of comprehensive IP services. With her deep expertise in patents and a client-first approach, she is dedicated to making intellectual property work smarter for businesses.
Our Executive Team
Sian Billson
Head of Life Sciences & Chemistry
Sian joined Stratagem in 2024 to lead the Chemistry and Life Sciences Patents team, bringing with her more than 25 years of experience from the patents department at pharmaceutical giant GSK. Throughout her career, she has developed and delivered global, commercially driven IP strategies that align tightly with business goals - factoring in patents, regulatory exclusivity, and investment value.
Angus Hone
CEO
A KPMG-trained Chartered Accountant (FCA), Angus has worked for KPMG & GSK. He then completed an MBA at Cranfield School of Management and redirected his focus towards high-growth businesses; Angus founded and exited two businesses and has held a series of senior leadership roles across life science, medical diagnostics and also a defence-related company.
Sarah Scott
Head of Finance
With a background in biochemistry and chartered accountancy, Sarah brings these combined skills to Stratagem’s financial strategy. Since 2017, she has ensured that our financial decisions support the company’s ability to deliver cost-effective, high-value IP services to clients.
Anna Smith
Head of People
Anna ensures that Stratagem’s greatest asset - its people - has the support, resources, and environment they need to excel. Since joining in 2022, she has championed a people-first culture that enhances the client experience through a highly skilled and motivated team.
Our Leadership in Action
Supporting Growth: our Board and Executive Team have guided businesses from startups to global enterprises, ensuring their IP strategies evolve alongside their growth.
Industry Influence: members of our leadership team actively contribute to shaping IP policies and best practices, sharing insights at key industry events.
Proactive Problem-Solving: through strategic partnerships, we’ve helped businesses unlock the commercial potential of their IP portfolios, identifying opportunities beyond protection.
Contact Us
Our leadership team is dedicated to ensuring that your intellectual property works for you. Whether you need high-level strategic guidance, tailored IP management solutions, or expert-led support, we’re here to help.
Tel: +44 (0)1223 550740
Sian Billson
Head of Life Sciences and Chemistry
Professional Background
Sian joined Stratagem in 2024 to lead the Chemistry and Life Sciences Patents team, bringing with her more than 25 years of experience from the patents department at pharmaceutical giant GSK. Throughout her career, she has developed and delivered global, commercially driven IP strategies that align tightly with business goals - factoring in patents, regulatory exclusivity, and investment value.
She’s worked across a wide range of corporate transactions, from due diligence and licensing to acquisitions and spinouts. Her expertise is particularly valuable to SMEs preparing their patent portfolios for partnerships with larger companies.
At GSK, Sian led the European Pharma Patents team, overseeing attorneys across chemistry, biopharmaceuticals and devices. She also held full accountability for the respiratory patent’s portfolio - spanning both development-stage and marketed assets.
Specialisms
Sian has deep expertise in the pharmaceutical space, particularly around assets in development or already on the market. Her work covers areas such as Orange Book listing (in both the US and China), and strategic planning around patent expiry.
Qualifications
- BSc Chemistry, University of York
- Masters in Intellectual Property Law, Queen Mary University of London
- Chartered Patent Attorney (CPA)
- European Patent Attorney (EPA)
- Member of CIPA, the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys
Why Stratagem?
For Sian, a strong IP strategy starts with understanding a business’s goals. It’s not just about filing patents but knowing why they’re being filed and how they’ll be used. Stratagem’s collaborative approach - working closely with clients as part of their wider management team was a perfect fit. Leading the Chemistry and Life Sciences team gives Sian the chance to apply her extensive in-house experience across a broad range of technologies and commercial models.
Beyond work
Having lived in Brazil and Canada as a child, Sian has a lifelong passion for travel. She loves meeting new people, discovering different cultures, and trying local dishes wherever she goes.
Get in Touch
Sian welcomes conversations with innovative businesses in life sciences and chemistry, especially where IP strategy can help unlock commercial potential.
Tel: +44 (0)1223 550740
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Angus Hone
Chief Executive Officer
Professional Background
Angus Hone was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Stratagem in September 2026.
A KPMG-trained Chartered Accountant (FCA), Angus has worked for KPMG & GSK. He then completed an MBA at Cranfield School of Management and redirected his focus towards high-growth businesses; Angus founded and exited two businesses and has held a series of senior leadership roles across life science, medical diagnostics and also a defence-related company.
Angus joins Stratagem with a strong track record of driving growth, commercialising innovation and leading organisations through transformation – experience he now brings to leading Stratagem through its next phase of development
Specialisms
Angus’s expertise spans:
- Business growth strategy and commercialisation, particularly for technology-led and IP-intensive businesses
- Leading organisational and cultural transformation
- Corporate governance, risk management and financial rigour
- Fundraising and M&A, including multiple exit processes
His approach combines analytical precision with hands-on leadership, focused on translating strategy into commercial results.
Qualifications
- MBA, Cranfield School of Management
- Chartered Accountant (FCA), trained at KPMG
Why Stratagem?
Angus is drawn to businesses where technical expertise needs to be matched with commercial discipline to unlock real value – precisely the challenge intellectual property firms like Stratagem exist to solve for their clients. He shares Stratagem’s belief that IP should be treated as a business asset, not simply a legal requirement, and is committed to building on the firm’s independent, client-first foundations as it enters its next chapter.
Beyond work
Outside Stratagem, Angus is a Visiting Fellow at Cranfield University, where he advises and coaches owner-managers through the Business Growth Programme. He is a keen hill walker and cyclist, and a (retired but still enthusiastic) rugby spectator.
Get in Touch
Have a question? Feel free to reach out – Angus would be happy to help.
Tel: +44 (0)1223 550740
Email: angus.hone@stratagemipm.co.uk
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Anna Smith
Head of People
Professional Background
With over 25 years of experience in HR, Anna brings a wealth of knowledge to her role at Stratagem. Having worked across professional services and education, she has developed a diverse skill set and is adept at managing a wide range of HR priorities.
Before joining Stratagem in 2022, Anna worked at three law firms between 1998 and 2012, followed by a decade in education. Her expertise lies in fostering a positive workplace culture, developing HR strategies, and ensuring people remain at the heart of business success.
Specialisms
- Enhancing the employee experience and aligning HR initiatives with strategic goals
- Fostering an inclusive, supportive, and engaging work environment
- Leading diversity, inclusion, and well-being initiatives
- Chairing the EDI, Mental Health, and Well-Being Committee
- Advocating for IP Inclusive to increase diversity within the IP profession
Qualifications
- BA Geography – University of Portsmouth
- Diploma in Law & Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice – College of Law, London
- Postgraduate Diploma in HR Management – University of North London
- Advanced Diploma in Professional Development – University of North London
Professional Memberships & Certifications
- Chartered Member of the CIPD (MCIPD)
- Mental Health First Aider
Why Stratagem?
Anna loves being part of Stratagem’s culture, where everyone is valued and treated as an individual. She was particularly proud of the company’s Gold Accreditation at the last Best Employers Eastern Region awards, where the judges commented that Stratagem’s engagement results were ‘directly attributable to its open culture and the deliberate decision to share information with everyone, along with the importance placed on teamwork and the creation of a supportive environment’.
Beyond work
Outside of work Anna enjoys gardening, the gym and trying to keep up with her teenage daughters!
Get in Touch
Have a question? Feel free to reach out - Anna would be happy to help.
Tel: +44 (0)1223 550740
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Sarah Scott
Head of Finance
Professional Background
After qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in 2009, Sarah began her career in the audit department at EY’s Cambridge office, working with clients ranging from biotech start-ups to global organisations. She completed her training at EY in 2009 before stepping into the education sector.
Sarah spent four years as Director of Finance at a leading Cambridgeshire academy, where she played a key role in transforming the school into a Multi-Academy Trust. She oversaw the integration of both finance and personnel systems to support this growth, before joining Stratagem in 2017. With an undergraduate degree and a PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Cambridge, Sarah combines scientific rigour with commercial insight as part of Stratagem’s Executive Team.
Specialisms
Sarah’s experience spans start-up biotechnology, large-scale corporates, and multi-academy education. At EY, she supported a broad mix of clients through financial auditing and strategic planning. In her academy role, she led on system integration during a period of rapid growth. Today, she applies this experience to Stratagem’s financial operations.
Qualifications
- MA Biochemistry, University of Cambridge
- PhD Biochemistry, University of Cambridge
- Chartered Accountant (CA)
- Member of The Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS)
Why Stratagem?
For Sarah, Stratagem stands out for its people. It’s a place where the team genuinely supports one another and their clients. Since joining, she’s progressed from Senior Finance Manager to Head of Finance and a member of the Exec group - thanks to a culture that values growth, invests in its people, and empowers development through high-quality training and resources.
Beyond work
Outside the office, Sarah enjoys singing in a couple of local Cambridge choirs and spending time with her family - even if that often means playing taxi driver to her kids. And here’s a fun fact - she once appeared as an extra in the film Mansfield Park.
Get in Touch
To connect with Sarah and hear more about how she supports the team at Stratagem, feel free to reach out.
Tel: +44 (0)1223 550740
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Kristen Baker-Munton
Non-Executive Director
Professional Background
Kristen Baker-Munton brings over four decades of expertise in intellectual property (IP) management and IT solutions. As the founder of IPSS Ltd, he developed innovative record management software tailored for law firms and multinational corporations. His career has spanned IT directorship roles across various industries, focusing on database management, software services, and internet solutions. He has worked with major corporations such as Unilever and ICI and has also contributed to the digital transformation of businesses like Hawkins Bazaar and Rapid Electronics, helping them establish strong online presences and e-commerce capabilities. His deep understanding of IP strategy, data integration, and technology-driven solutions continues to add value to Stratagem's approach to client-focused IP management.
Specialisms
- Intellectual property record management software
- IT systems and database solutions
- E-commerce and web development
- Corporate IP portfolio management and strategy
Why Stratagem?
Kristen's connection to Stratagem is deeply personal. As the husband of the late Nicola Baker-Munton, Stratagem’s founder, he has long been involved in supporting the company behind the scenes. From lending his IT expertise to developing database solutions, Kristen has been part of Stratagem’s journey for many years. In July 2024, he officially joined the Board during a critical time for the company, reinforcing his commitment to Nicola’s vision and ensuring her legacy continues to thrive.
Beyond work
Outside of IP, Kristen finds great fulfilment in horticulture - a passion rooted in formal training he received in Japan during his youth. He now channels this interest into tending his garden and contributing to the design and construction of sustainable Eco Houses built for modern, environmentally conscious living.
Get in Touch
Kristen remains committed to supporting Stratagem’s clients and team. If you’d like to get in contact, please do so via Stratagem’s contact channels.
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David George
Non-Executive Director
Professional Background
David George brings a wealth of experience in healthcare, diagnostics, and scientific innovation, underpinned by a background in biochemistry and pharmacology. His early career began in medical research, exploring biochemical responses to trauma, before moving into the commercial world. From building diagnostic businesses across the UK and internationally to leading Corning Medical – later known as Ciba Corning and then Chiron Diagnostics – David has a proven track record in growing complex, global operations. Following the successful sale of the business in 1999, he turned his focus to supporting others in the sector, becoming a trusted advisor, investor, and board member across a wide range of healthcare and scientific organisations. His pragmatic insight and strategic guidance continue to be an invaluable asset to Stratagem.
Specialisms
- Healthcare and scientific innovation
- Business growth and turnaround strategy
- Global diagnostics and critical care sectors
- Board-level advisory and leadership
Why Stratagem?
David’s connection to Stratagem began not in a boardroom, but at the school gates in 1999, where he met Nicola Baker-Munton, Stratagem’s founder. What began as a conversation about a bold new IP venture soon became an enduring collaboration. From early strategic input to ongoing support behind the scenes, David has been part of Stratagem’s journey from the start. His commitment to the company – and to Nicola’s vision – continues to shape its direction and growth today.
Get in Touch
David continues to support the Stratagem team as a valued member of the Board. To connect, please get in touch via Stratagem’s contact channels.
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Oliver Leason
Patent Attorney
Professional Background
Oliver began his IP career in 2018 as a trainee patent attorney at Stratagem, shortly after graduating from the University of Bath with a first-class degree in Civil Engineering. His academic studies spanned a broad range of disciplines, including renewable energy generation, fluid dynamics, and fully integrated design projects.
Before entering the world of intellectual property, Oliver gained practical industry experience through a year-long placement at AECOM. There, he worked as a structural engineer, contributing to the inspection and assessment of railway bridges to ensure compliance with safety and functionality standards. These experiences, combined with his problem-solving mindset and commercial awareness, have shaped his pragmatic and insightful approach to IP.
Specialisms
Oliver has strong expertise in drafting and prosecuting patent applications to grant. His work also includes freedom-to-operate reviews and advising on infringement and validity issues. He manages IP portfolios and budgets across a wide range of engineering sectors. His interests lie in mechanical engineering, renewable energy devices, security apparatus, and computer-based systems that enhance physical processes. He enjoys engaging with emerging technologies and brings enthusiasm to learning about new fields.
Qualifications
Oliver holds a first-class MEng in Civil Engineering from the University of Bath. He is a qualified UK Chartered Patent Attorney (CPA) and European Patent Attorney (EPA). He is also a member of the Institute of Professional Representatives before the European Patent Office (EPI).
Why Stratagem?
Oliver values Stratagem’s client-first approach and the opportunity to work as a trusted extension of each client’s team. He enjoys building close working relationships and helping clients tackle the complexities of IP with clarity and confidence. The supportive and flexible working environment also enables him to independently manage his workload while pursuing his long-term goals.
Beyond work
Outside of work, Oliver is a Freeman of the City of London and a member of The Guild of Mercers' Scholars. He’s an active sportsman, with a passion for weight training, skiing, and football. He’s also a grade 8 drummer and previously played in an indie rock band.
Get in Touch
To find out how Oliver can support your IP strategy, get in touch.
Tel: +44 (0)1223 550740
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