Signature’s Advisors

Dr Chris Steele - Media Advisor

Dr. Chris Steele, Signature Communications’ Media Advisor, is a G.P. and has been resident doctor on ITV's This Morning programme for the past 20 years.  Author of 'Quit Smoking - Nicotine Phaseout programme' and 'Babies & Young Children',
Dr Chris has also lectured in over twenty five countries and has worked with several agencies including Dept of Health, NHS Direct and The Security Service.

A journalist for over fifteen years, Dr Chris previously wrote for the Manchester Evening News and a wide selection of national newspapers and women’s magazines.  He now writes for Woman magazine and regularly contributes to other newspapers and TV magazines.  In 2007, he was awarded the prestigious 'Health Journalist of the Year Award' by the Guild of Health Writers.

In 2006, Dr Chris launched his website www.thefamilygp.com which covers a wide spectrum of Medical & Health information, featuring videos of live examinations and his very popular 'Fat Farewell Diet' and 'Quit Smoking Plan'.  The website has been awarded 'Best Family Health Website on the Internet' by 'Now' magazine and several 'Website of the Week' awards.

Dr. Chris qualified in 1968 and has worked as a GP in South Manchester since then.  He is married and has four children.

Mr Roger Ackroyd
MB, ChB, MD, FRCS(Eng), FRCS(Ed), FRCS (Gen Surg)
Medical Advisor

Signature’s Medical Advisor, Roger Ackroyd, qualified in medicine from Sheffield University in 1989 and went on to train in general and upper GI surgery in both Sheffield, UK and in Adelaide, South Australia.  He took up a consultant appointment in Sheffield in 2001 and is a fully qualified and accredited general surgeon who specialises in upper GI surgery.

He has an extremely busy bariatric surgery practice, operating on around 400 patients per year. He has performed in excess of 1400 obesity operations. He offers all types of obesity surgery, both open and laparoscopic, including revisional surgery. The most common operations offered by him include laparoscopic gastric banding, laparoscopic roux-en-Y gastric bypass and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.

He is a member of the British Obesity Surgery Society (BOSS) and is currently an elected committee member and the Treasurer of this organisation.

Mr Ackroyd's surgical practice offers a full range of obesity procedures where he operates as part of a multidisciplinary team, including a specialist dietician, specialist nurse practitioner and two specialist anaesthetists.  His nurse practitioner and dietician also run a patient support group, where patients can meet and talk to others who have had surgery for their obesity.

With media attention continually focussing on obesity figures, particularly in children, the round robin of ‘hot’ diets and the influence of lifestyle factors, Mr Ackroyd provides Signature with a credible and valuable source of information and opinion on this often controversial topic.

Terry Foot - OTC Marketing and Regulatory Advisor

Terry brings 30 years industry experience in over the counter medicines to the group, specialising in working with pharmaceutical companies to develop brand strategies and marketing programmes for new and existing products.

Utilising experience of the trade arena along with industry and customer research, focussed programmes and creative tools are developed which deliver within the stringent regulatory framework the pharmaceutical industry operates within. Expert in licensing and product development within regulatory guidelines, Terry is a valuable resource to Signature as both a marketing and regulatory advisor.

On a personal level, Terry enjoys gardening and golf with his wife Paula. He has an ever-growing family of three daughters, six grandsons, and one granddaughter.

Further information about Chiltern Brands and their team of experienced marketing professionals can be found at www.chilternbrands.com