We’re a UK based team of leading pharmacologists, dermatologists, microbiologists and safety & compliance experts


Meet the senior ADSL
management team

Mark Bowes-Cavanagh
CEOMark founded ADSL as a consultancy company in 2008, after spotting a gap in the UK cosmetics market for somewhere that could offer the breadth of services covered by ADSL under one roof. Since then, Mark has concentrated on recruiting excellent staff across the board and ADSL is now approved by all major UK retailers to provide CPSRs and further support services. Mark is very hands on in the business and after 24 years in the cosmetics industry has expertise himself in formulating, regulatory, technical and ingredient aspects. Mark loves seeing customers and solving the day-to-day challenges that running a business throws up – but most of all getting great feedback . Fun fact: Mark once, on a business trip in Hong Kong, ended up in a bar with seven former Liverpool (who he supports) Football Players and played with them in a seven-a-side match!

John Dean Jnr
Office ManagerJohn followed his dad to the company in August 2013. He came over from Mayfield manufacturing labs, attracted by the coast and different role available to him. John manages a lot of incoming workflow and generates CPSR reports. He’s constantly in contact with customers, collating and relaying information for projects and reports. A jack of all trades, he’s even been known to dip back into the labs and help out when they need an extra pair of hands. John loves getting completed, detailed briefs from customers, with no follow ups necessary, especially if he’s worked with them before. Fun fact: John’s also a keen drummer and was the year below Joss Stone at school!

Bill Witt
Regulatory & Compliance ManagerBill’s been at ADSL since the company was founded in 2008. Prior to this he worked in optoelectronics, which is where Mark found him and asked him to move over to cosmetics. Bill manages and advises an important pillar of ADSL’s services – regulatory. It’s a huge category including acceptable ingredients use, labelling and claims both within the EU and around the world (he is essentially a walking regulatory encyclopaedia!). He gets great satisfaction from resolving customer questions and seeing their products go to market. Fun fact: Bill’s degree was actually in Painting & Fine Art History just along the south coast in Exeter!

Claire Bowes-Cavanagh
Operations ManagerClaire is in charge of supporting senior management and the directors in the accounting and operations of the business. She has a proven track record of managing complex operations from her work in the food retail sector and has been successful in delivering time-critical projects. Claire’s line management experience working in manufacturing environments means she understands the importance of working as a team and the quality assurance this delivers. This translates to a genuine commitment to providing exemplary customer service. She manages the implementation of projects and the systems that support ADSL’s core business. Claire describes herself as enthusiastic, collaborative, self-motivated, and eager to take on new and diverse projects.

Dean Kelly
Business Development ManagerWith 20+ years’ experience in Sales & Business Management, Dean joined ADSL in September 2021 taking on the role as Client & Business Development Manager. With a strong background in business growth strategies and customer service structures in a variety of technical industries, Dean’s experience will maintain the high levels of service expected by ADSLs current and future clients. Fun fact; Back in the 90’s Dean was a road manager for Club DJ Carl Cox.

Jessica Rood
Formulation ChemistJessica joined ADSL in June 2021 from THG Labs (Acheson & Acheson). She started in the industry in 2016 as a Laboratory Technician and took a keen interest in this career path. She holds a Diploma in Cosmetic Science as well as a BSc in Environmental Science. Jessica formulates a variety of new briefs in the development lab working alongside her Technical Manager to achieve the best result. She is experienced in a wide range of products such as skin care and hair care, with a distinct knowledge of COSMOS Natural and Organic formulations. Jessica particularly enjoys the variety in her job and working with customers on new and exciting briefs. Fun Fact: Jessica is a PADI qualified Open Water Diver and has swum with Blue Sharks off the coast of Cornwall.

Justyna Sobczyk
Formulation & Development ManagerJustyna joined ADSL in 2019 from Swallowfield PLC, a cosmetics, make-up and aerosol company. She brought with her 6 years of research, formulation and development experience within the cosmetic industry. She also completed a Master’s Degree in Cosmetic Science to add to her Bachelor’s Degree in Polymer Chemistry. Justyna’s knowledge and experience covers a full spectrum of applications including hair care, skin care, aerosol technology and naturals chemistry. Her main role is to work with clients to formulate class-leading products aligned to specific briefs and objectives in addition to management of ADSL’s ISO 17025 accredited R&D laboratory. Outside of R&D, her daily activities include stability and compatibility testing as well as preservation guidance to ensure products survive the shelf and their intended applications. Fun fact: From early childhood, Justyna always aspired to pursue a life in chemistry. She is a passionate chemist who loves innovation and development, and she started off as a teacher in a high school.

Charlotte Priestman
Microbiologist & Compliance TechnicianCharlotte joined ADSL in August 2014 from a pharmaceutical contract laboratory, moving down to Devon from Greater London for a change of pace by the seaside. Her day-to-day tasks include challenge testing, product registration, PIF compilation, general organisation and office administration. Charlotte also just learnt to do available water testing for products with water contents below that which can need to be challenge tested. Charlotte also performs Stability testing and worked alongside John (Snr) and Gurdip to get ISO 17025 accreditation. She really enjoys the variety of the role and learning more in the office side of the business and industry. Fun fact: In her youth, Charlotte used to do a lot of dancing and once did a charity dance show in Staines with some well-known Eastenders stars!

Erin Robinson
Research & Development TechnicianErin joined ADSL in March 2020 after completing an Extended Diploma in Public Services. After initially wanting to pursue a career within the Army, an opportunity arose to join the team here at ADSL as a Laboratory Technician. Her main responsibilities include assessing Stability and Compatibility samples and working alongside Chemists to make up formulations. Erin enjoys the vast variety of different responsibilities within her role but particularly appreciates speaking with customers on testing requirements. Fun Fact: Erin is a keen horse rider and often takes part in equestrian events.

Craig Stoneman
MicrobiologistCraig joined ADSL in 2018. After studying Extended Science at Plymouth University, Craig sought to pursue a career in science and brings a proven track record of microbiological experience to the team. Craig enjoys pushing the microbiological side of the business and brings a professional and friendly attitude to customers and colleagues. Fun fact: Craig loves invertebrates and is an avid tarantula keeper. He hopes to add scorpions to his growing collection!

Jake Robinson
Microbiology ManagerJake undertook 2 years of work placements at ADSL before joining full time in 2019. Jake’s background is in Pharmacology having completed a degree in the field at university which has prepared him perfectly for his position within ADSL. The role combines a very diverse range of practices which cover clinical, practical and theoretical aspects of science. Jake enjoys the interesting variety of work and the responsibility that comes with it.

Martin Perry
Senior Safety AssessorMartin joined ADSL in August 2016 from SGS. His role involves ensuring products comply with regulations & producing CPSRs as well as giving customers expert advice on cosmetics safety and the path to market. Martin has a background in chemistry including a doctorate in that field. H’s been working in the UK cosmetics industry for over 10 years and is a respected expert in the regulatory and safety capacity. Martin still considers himself a formulator first and foremost and loves the opportunity to look at new and innovative formulations. Fun fact: Martin is a long-time Stoke City supporter and hopes they’ll be the next Leicester!

Louis Macco
Financial AssistantLouis joined ADSL at the start of 2022 after graduating from Cardiff University with a joint Honours degree in Accounting and Finance. Working alongside Steven, Louis assists with overseeing the finances of the business, helping customers with queries, and providing them with assistance when needed. Louis is also involved with our compliance team and assists in PIF compilation as well as product registration. After graduating from university, Louis spent 3 months travelling around southeast Asia and after returning home he decided he wanted to continue where his degree left off and pursue a career in finance. Louis aims to go on to study with CIMA and gain his Chartered Accountant qualification. Fun fact: Louis used to work at Legoland and once had Jamie Vardy and his family on the rides.

Hannah Folland
Dermatology AdministratorHannah joined ADSL in 2019 after 10 years in retail management. Her previous experience was in a performance-driven environment but she really enjoys being part of a team and leading by example. Hannah’s role within the DermaCentre places her perfectly in the middle of a community of individuals ADSL work with for clinical evaluation activity, as well as clients who want to complete regulatory requirements concerning objective claim data. She enjoys the variety of the job, from study protocols through to collation of Product Information Files. Fun fact: Hannah is a keen amateur runner.

Steven Henderson
Finance & AccountsWith 16 years’ experience as a Practice Accountant, Steven joined ADSL as the Internal Accountant in 2019. Steven has known Mark and Claire for many years and is a dynamic addition to the team. Steven oversees the financial and accounts aspects of the business. A hands on, transparent and approachable individual, Steven is focused on delivering a reassuring influence to each and every one of our customers. Fun fact: Steven was, at one time, the youngest person in the UK to achieve a red kruang-ruang (equivalent to black belt) in Muay Thai.

Shannon Bowes-Cavanagh
Derma CentreI joined ADSL in the summer of 2020 whilst still at university in Cardiff. I started working in the development lab, helping with stability and compatibility testing, and making products. An opportunity came up to work in the DermaCentre in 2021 so I decided to base myself here because I enjoy the variety that organising and carrying out clinical trials brings. I’ve always worked best in social environments so the DermaCentre seemed like a good fit for me as I am able to deal with panellists as well as co-workers. Fun fact: I spent three months travelling Southeast Asia.

Tierney King
Analytical ManagerTierney joined ADSL in 2021 while in her final year of studying Chemistry at the University of Plymouth. Once she completed her Bachelor’s degree, she joined full time in the analytical centre using HPLC, GC-MS, FTIR and ICP-MS. Her day-to-day roles include testing samples for heavy metals, 1,4-dioxane, cannabinoids, terpenes and residual solvents. Tierney’s analytical and problem solving skills, developed through her university and industrial experience, are ideal for this position. Tierney enjoys working alongside customers to meet their analytical testing requirements.