Wellcome’s director, Dr Jeremy Farrar, will be stepping down next February after completing two five-year terms at the charity.
Farrar leaves to take up the role of chief scientist at the World Health Organization (WHO), where he will oversee the science division.
Paul Schreier, Wellcome’s chief operating officer, has been appointed interim chief executive officer of the charity from 25 February 2023.
Wellcome’s trustees began the recruitment process for a permanent chief executive earlier this year.
Growth under Farrar’s leadership
Before joining Wellcome in 2013, Farrar spent 17 years as director of the clinical research unit at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases.
During Farrar’s tenure, Wellcome’s annual spending has almost doubled and its endowment has risen from £15bn to £38bn.
Farrar led Wellcome’s work that advocated for rapid investment in research on testing for Covid-19 treatments and vaccines. He was formerly a participant of the UK Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) and a member of the Principal Group of WHO’s ACT-Accelerator.
“In the decade since I joined Wellcome, the world has seen incredible change. We are living through fragile and uncertain times, with huge inequities to address. But we have also seen breath-taking and life-changing advances in science and health, and achieved critical progress in the global collaboration that makes sure these are brought to bear for the most benefit for the maximum number of people,” said Farrar.
“Wellcome has played no small part in this. I leave taking with me enormous pride in what we have achieved together – and do so knowing Wellcome’s mission to improve health has never been more focused in the hands of the amazing teams that make Wellcome what it is today.”
Wellcome’s chair Julia Gillard said: “Jeremy’s leadership and insight have seen Wellcome achieve remarkable growth, realising ambitions in science and health on a scale not previously possible. His vision has enabled Wellcome’s bold £16bn strategy for the next decade, supporting scientific discovery and solutions to tackle the greatest health threats facing us all – mental health, escalating infectious disease and the health impacts of the climate crisis.
“The board and I thank Jeremy for his outstanding contribution to Wellcome and our mission to improve health and save lives around the world”.
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