Wellcome, the global charitable foundation dedicated to advancing science and research to address urgent health challenges, has announced three key appointments to its Executive Committee. Professor Rachel McKendry has been named Executive Director of Discovery, Professor Charlotte Watts will serve as Executive Director of Solutions, and Maggy Chan has been appointed as Chief Operating Officer (COO).
Maggy Chan will assume her role in January, while Professors McKendry and Watts will begin in March.
An esteemed leader in biomedicine and nanotechnology, Professor Rachel McKendry is a trailblazer in early disease diagnosis through the integration of quantum technologies, deep learning, and mobile health. She holds joint appointments at the London Centre for Nanotechnology and UCL’s Division of Medicine.
Her accolades include the Royal Society Rosalind Franklin Award, and she was the first woman to lead an EPSRC Interdisciplinary Research Centre or Collaboration. She has played pivotal roles in shaping policies such as the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme and co-chaired the Digital Medicine Theme of the Topol Review for the NHS.
At Wellcome, Professor McKendry will spearhead efforts to identify and invest in breakthrough research across biomedical, social sciences, clinical, and physical sciences disciplines.
Professor Charlotte Watts brings a wealth of experience as Chief Scientific Adviser and Director of Research and Evidence at the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO). A Professor of Global Health and Development at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, she has led extensive multi-country research programs addressing infectious diseases, HIV prevention, and gender-based violence.
In her governmental role, Professor Watts directed major health, climate, and humanitarian research investments and represented the UK at international science policy engagements, including the G20 Science and Innovation Ministerial meetings.
At Wellcome, she will oversee transformative research investments and policy initiatives across the foundation’s three Solutions programs: Climate and Health, Infectious Diseases, and Mental Health.
Maggy Chan joins Wellcome following a distinguished career in the media and entertainment industry, including leadership roles at BBC Studios and NBCUniversal. With a track record in managing large-scale operations and spearheading global expansions, she brings deep expertise in operational strategy and innovation.
As COO, Maggy will lead Wellcome’s operations in finance, digital technology, risk, legal, sustainability, and human resources, ensuring the organisation’s mission is delivered with maximum efficiency and impact.
These appointments mark a pivotal moment for Wellcome as it continues to drive scientific innovation and global health solutions.
Click here to read the original press release.
