Chief executive appointment completes leadership team for Wellcome Genome Campus

Robert has a long background in real estate and development, having spent 23 years with the property company Argent/Related Argent. He was chief executive of King’s Cross N1C, where he oversaw the vision, planning, delivery, and execution of the renowned King’s Cross development – one of the most successful examples of urban redevelopment and regeneration globally. 

Robert has also been an advisor to Homes England’s Cambridge Delivery Group and will retain his role as a non-executive director of planning firm, Quod.

The Wellcome Genome Campus in south Cambridgeshire is undergoing a major expansion that will secure its status as a world-leading hub for genomics and biodata – two of the most cutting-edge areas of scientific research.

Wellcome Genome Campus Ltd is an investment subsidiary of Wellcome, the charitable foundation which supports science to solve urgent health challenges. The company will manage the campus and oversee its expansion, aiming to attract the most innovative companies in genomics and biodata worldwide.

Robert will lead the campus management team and work in partnership with Urban&Civic, the site’s master developer, to play a pivotal role in the campus’ expansion, alongside engaging with potential occupiers globally.

The first phase of the development, approved by Wellcome’s board last year, will unlock development across the 315-acre extension site by putting in place crucial infrastructure and readying parcels of land. It will deliver 180,000 square feet of new laboratory space alongside new homes, retail and leisure space and new wildlife habitat.

Robert joins Wellcome Genome Campus Ltd’s established leadership team under executive chair Phil Clark to complete its executive leadership team, alongside:

• Colette O’Shea, chief operating officer
  Colette was previously chief operating officer at Landsec, where she spent 20 years creating some of London’s most recognisable and successful developments.
• Matt Green, chief financial officer
  Matt was chief financial officer of The Office Group (TOG and Fora), where he oversaw the group expansion over 13 years, delivering structure and scale in a fast-growth environment. 

Phil Clark, executive chair of Wellcome Genome Campus, said:

“We have put a team in place who have outstanding records of success. Their expertise in delivering the highest-quality inspirational and sustainable places is what will make this campus one of the best locations in the world to do life science.

“We are creating opportunities for a community of scientific innovators to collaborate and make new discoveries. This remarkable project will not only directly boost science in the UK, but also deliver commercial returns to Wellcome to power its charitable mission of supporting science to solve urgent health challenges around the world.”

Robert Evans, chief executive of Wellcome Genome Campus, said:

“I am delighted to be joining the team at Wellcome Genome Campus, at a very exciting time. The campus expansion now underway will provide new facilities, enhance the current offer to occupiers and deliver opportunities for new activities, research and commercial endeavours. 

“I am looking forward to working with all of our partners to develop and implement the vision for a world-class, growing campus at the very centre of the Cambridge life sciences ecosystem.”

Nick Moakes, chief investment officer at Wellcome, said:

“Robert’s arrival as chief executive is an important milestone and statement of intent for the Wellcome Genome Campus and its expansion. Already a pre-eminent campus where the Wellcome Sanger Institute and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory’s European Bioinformatics Institute are long-term occupiers, Robert and his team, in partnership with Urban&Civic, Wellcome’s strategic developer, are perfectly placed to oversee the ongoing success of the campus and generate commercial and scientific returns.”