1. Title
The title of the Society is deemed to be “The Pharmaceutical Sales Managers Group”.

2. Aims of Society
a. To promote the improvement in standards of sales and business management practice in healthcare.

b. To promote the education and development of healthcare business managers including support of the ABPI guidelines.

c. To provide a discussion forum for healthcare business managers.

d. To facilitate the interchange of ideas on relevant issues affecting the healthcare industry.

e. To improve the professional status and perceived integrity of sales professionals in contact with Medical, Pharmaceutical and allied professionals within the National Health Service.

3. Eligibility for Membership
(These rules are designed to protect the integrity of our membership and ensure discussion during meetings is relevant and helpful to those who lead or direct Managers of Sales Teams or who have responsibility for National Teams.)

 i. Business Managers in the British Pharmaceutical Industry, or allied Healthcare Industry, with National or second-line responsibility, who are directly involved with salesforces in the commercialisation of healthcare products.

ii. Second-line or National Sales Managers within Contract Sales Organisations where management of the salesforce constitutes the whole of their job.

iii. Previous members, who are currently in different positions in any company, subject to clause 4 below.

iv. People who would have in the past qualified for membership under clause 3i or 3ii who are currently in different positions in the Healthcare Industry, subject to clause 4 below.

v. People who would have in the past qualified for membership as a second-line Sales Manager, who are currently in different positions in the service sector, subject to clause 4 below.

4. Membership Process
i. Applications for individual membership shall be made annually by the submission of an application form to the Membership Secretary.

ii. The Membership Committee of the Pharmaceutical Sales Management Group, consisting of the PSMG Chairman, Membership Secretary, and one other elected committee member (the member being from industry as opposed to an allied service company), shall have the option to approve or refuse any application for membership by applying the current membership criteria currently in force at the time of application (details of which are published separately and are subject to change by committee approval subject to clause 5 below).

iii. The Membership Committee will also be responsible for resolving by majority vote any membership queries or disputes that may arise, and will review or revoke membership of any member if their actions are deemed to bring the PSMG into disrepute or violate the membership code of conduct

5. Management of The Pharmaceutical Sales Management Group
i. The day-to-day business affairs of the PSMG shall be handled by the committee, in conjunction with the Secretary of the PSMG, who may or may not be a committee member.

ii. All actions and activities of the PSMG will be decided by a majority vote of the committee members, the Chairman having the casting vote.

iii. A quorum of four committee members, one of whom should either be the Chairman, Vice Chairman, Treasurer or Membership Secretary, shall be necessary for the taking of the vote.

iv. The Secretary will circulate minutes of committee meetings to all committee members within 2 weeks of the meeting. The minutes will be approved at the next committee meeting.

v. Although the PSMG is non-profit making, it should nevertheless endeavour to maintain a resource of funds to support further activities..

6. Composition of the Committee
i. There will be a maximum of 9 committee members made up of representatives from both industry and allied service providers, the majority being from industry.

ii. Committee membership is open only to members of the PSMG and is initially for a period of 2 years.

iii. The election of members to the committee, shall be made at the AGM by individual nominations for new members to serve on the committee, or by co-option by the committee, confirmed at the AGM.
iv. After their initial two-year term, committee members can be re-elected annually at the AGMs.

v. The voting of these positions will be based on each PSMG member having one vote and the position determined by a simple majority of those present at the AGM. The current Chairman has the casting vote.

vi. If a vacancy occurs for a committee member between AGMs the committee have the right to co-opt a new member onto the committee without reference to the full group membership.

vii. Election to one of the officer positions of the committee of Chairman, Vice Chairman, Treasurer and Membership Secretary will be made in the same way as normal election to the committee and will be bound by the same rules governing committee membership subject to clause viii below.

viii. If the same person holds any two officer positions then that person will have only 1 vote in any voting issues.

ix. Eligibility for the role of PSMG Chairman is open only to members from industry as opposed to allied service companies.

7. Meeting Dates
i. There should be an Annual General Meeting held each year, where the audited accounts of the Group will be provided to the full membership for approval and acceptance at the AGM.

ii. Meetings will be at regular intervals with a minimum of 3 per year and all members will be notified by circulation of an agenda not less than 14 days prior to the chosen date.

iii. An Extraordinary General Meeting may be called of the full membership at any time if a majority of the committee members so deem.

iv. The committee will meet as necessary to ensure that the aims of the group are fully discharged

8. Finance
i. All records of the society shall be kept under the direction of the Treasurer.

ii. Monies in excess of £2500 will only be paid out under the signatures of two of the following – The Chairman, Vice Chairman, Treasurer, Membership Secretary or Secretary. The Treasurer can pay out amounts less than £2500.

iii. At each PSMG committee meeting, the Treasurer will provide an updated assessment of the finances.

iv. At the AGM the audited financial accounts of the previous years’ activities will be provided for approval.

9. Indemnification
i. The PSMG shall indemnify all members of the committee in respect of actions, claims and demands made against the PSMG. This indemnity will be jointly and severally in the respect of any act which has been transacted lawfully decided upon by the committee, or omitted to be done by the committee by error, within the scope of their authority.

ii. The PSMG shall not be responsible for the actions of any member of the PSMG whether they purport to be acting for or on behalf of the PSMG.

10. Alteration to the Constitution
No alteration or addition to this constitution shall be made unless:

i. The committee request an alteration to be voted upon at the AGM or an Extraordinary General Meeting.

ii. A postal or email vote of not less than three quarters of the full membership pronounces an alteration or addition.