Executive Committee

Our day-to-day activities are managed by a leadership team made up of senior managers from across the organisation.

Executive committee members provide advice to both the governors and the Chief Executive Officer on strategic, planning, operational and policy matters.

  • John-Arne Røttingen

    Chief Executive Officer

    Wellcome

    John-Arne joined Wellcome as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in January 2024 and leads the charitable foundation’s mission to support science to solve the urgent health challenges facing everyone.

    Connect with John-Arne:

  • Maggy Chan

    Chief Operating Officer

    Wellcome

    Maggy joined Wellcome as Chief Operating Officer (COO) in January 2025. She leads operations across Finance, Risk, Digital & Technology, Legal, Sustainability and People, enhancing the pace and effectiveness with which the organisation can deliver on its mission.

    Connect with Maggy:

  • Mark Henderson

    Executive Director, Corporate Affairs & Engagement

    Wellcome

    Mark Henderson leads all aspects of our communications and public engagement, with a particular focus on building and sustaining trust, influence and Wellcome's reputation so that our work contributes more to health and society.

  • Steven Hoffman

    Interim Chief of Staff and Interim Executive Director, Strategy

    Wellcome

    Steven joined Wellcome in 2024 as interim Chief of Staff with responsibility for supporting day-to-day management of the organisation and driving integration across Wellcome’s teams to advance our mission.

    Connect with Steven:

  • Rachel McKendry

    Executive Director, Discovery

    Wellcome

    Rachel joined Wellcome in March 2025. She is responsible for identifying, enabling and investing in potential breakthrough research to drive significant discoveries across biomedical, humanities & social sciences, clinical research, population health and relevant engineering and physical sciences.

    Connect with Rachel:

  • Beth Thompson

    Executive Director, Policy & Partnerships

    Wellcome

    Beth joined Wellcome in 2009. She became interim Chief Strategy Officer in 2022, Chief Strategy Officer in 2023 and Executive Director of Policy and Parnerships in 2024. She is responsible for government relations and strategic partnerships and policy teams. 

    Connect with Beth:

  • Jimmy Volmink

    Executive Director, Equity

    Wellcome

    Jimmy joined Wellcome in 2023 as Chief Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Officer and leads our work to become an inclusive funder. He works in partnership with the whole executive leadership team to support Wellcome in becoming an inclusive employer.

    Connect with Jimmy:

  • Charlotte Watts

    Executive Director, Solutions

    Wellcome

    Charlotte joined Wellcome in March 2025. She supports transformative research investments, public engagement and policy influence, making significant global impact across Wellcome’s three Solutions programmes: Climate and Health, Infectious Diseases and Mental Health. 

    Connect with Charlotte:

Extended Executive Committee 

An Extended Executive Group (EEG) provides input to the Executive Committee on strategic issues. The EEG includes all members of the Executive Committee and includes senior leaders from across the organisation.

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