Wellcome announces new Executive Committee appointments

Professor Rachel McKendry has been appointed has Executive Director of Discovery, Professor Charlotte Watts the Executive Director of Solutions, and Maggy Chan as Wellcome’s Chief Operating Officer.  

Maggy joins Wellcome in January. Rachel and Charlotte will join in March.  

Executive Director of Discovery  

Rachel is a renowned expert in biomedicine and nanotechnology, holding a joint appointment at the London Centre for Nanotechnology and the Division of Medicine at UCL. Her research focuses on early disease diagnosis, using quantum technologies, deep learning, and mobile health for clinical and public health impact. Rachel has won several awards for her research including the Royal Society Rosalind Franklin Award and was the first woman to lead an EPSRC Interdisciplinary Research Centre or Collaboration.  

In addition to her strong research background, Rachel has a deep understanding of how to influence policies to drive global change. She shaped the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme quantum for health and life sciences strategy and mission, co-chaired the Digitial Medicine Theme of the Topol Review for the NHS, and served on the International Pandemic Preparedness 100 Days Mission Scientific and Technical Advisory Group for Diagnostics.

In her role as Wellcome’s Director of Discovery, Rachel is responsible for identifying, enabling and investing in potential breakthrough research to drive significant discoveries across biomedical, humanities & social sciences, clinical research and relevant physical sciences.  

Rachel McKendry said:  

"I am incredibly honoured to join Wellcome as the Executive Director of Discovery, to lead this pivotal long-term programme supporting bold paradigm-changing discovery research with the potential to transform our understanding of human life, health and wellbeing in future.  

“This newly created role is incredibly exciting and brings together Wellcome’s world-leading Discovery Research programme supporting curiosity-driven research across all disciplines, fields and career stages, the Wellcome Sanger Institute, the Wellcome Leap Programme, and our work to advance data for science and health. I am really looking forward to working with John-Arne, the Executive Committee and the whole Discovery team to deliver Wellcome’s mission to build a healthier future for everyone."  

Executive Director of Solutions  

Charlotte Watts is Chief Scientific Adviser and Director of Research and Evidence at the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) – a secondment from her academic position as Professor of Global Health and Development at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). Over her academic career she has led large multi-disciplinary and multi-country research programmes, including on infectious disease epidemiology, HIV prevention, and gender-based violence.  

Over her past nine years in UK Government, Charlotte has headed the Research and Evidence Directorate, including teams managing major portfolios of investment in health, climate, agriculture, clean energy, gender, conflict and humanitarian research. In this role, she has shaped national and international health policy, as well as working with communities and countries most impacted by health challenges. As joint head of the UK’s Science and Technology diplomatic network, she frequently represents the UK in international policy and research engagements, most recently heading the UK’s delegation to G20 Science and Innovation Ministerial meetings in Brazil.  

As Wellcome’s Director of Solutions, Charlotte will support 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.  

Charlotte Watts said:  

“Impact-driven research and partnerships are essential to tackling the world’s most pressing health challenges. I am deeply honoured and excited to join Wellcome’s leadership team as Executive Director of Solutions, where I will oversee its transformative investments in climate and health, mental health and infectious diseases. I look forward to working with John-Arne, the executive team, the Solutions team and wider staff to deliver on Wellcome’s mission.”  

Chief Operating Officer  

Maggy has been a prominent executive in the entertainment and media industry for more than two decades. She brings deep operational expertise from leading in the creative industries at a time of profound transformation and disruption. She is a highly experienced leader whose past roles include COO, Global Distribution at BBC Studios, the main commercial arm of the BBC, where she was responsible for all business operations and was a member of the Executive Committee. 

Her most recent role was Managing Director and Executive Vice President of Global Advertising at NBCUniversal, the American multinational media and entertainment group, where she led a global expansion in advertising capabilities, including the latest in data-driven advertising, automation and commercial innovations, focusing on scale and simplicity.  

As Wellcome’s COO, Maggy is responsible for leading Wellcome’s operations across Finance, Risk, Digital & Technology, Legal, Sustainability and People, enhancing the pace and effectiveness with which the organisation can deliver on its mission, providing key partnership to Wellcome’s CEO and Governors.

Maggy Chan said:  

“I have long believed in the power of science as a source of trust, hope and solutions. I am honoured and excited to join Wellcome as Chief Operating Officer, leading our operations across all enabling functions to optimise the impact of this unique organisation.

“I look forward to working with the Executive Committee and teams across all of Wellcome to successfully deliver on Wellcome’s vision to solve urgent health challenges and build healthier futures for communities around the world.”

John-Arne Røttingen, Wellcome CEO, said:  

“I am delighted to appoint three exceptional leaders, completing Wellcome’s Executive Committee.  

“Rachel has an outstanding track record in leading research across multiple scientific disciplines. With her passion for transformative research and a strong ambition to improve research culture, Rachel is a great fit to lead our Discovery department.  

“Charlotte brings deep experience of working with and within communities around the world who are most affected by the health challenges at the heart of Wellcome’s Solutions programmes. She brings expert knowledge and understanding in how research can translate to policy and practice through more effective partnerships, delivering on achieving healthier futures for everyone.  

“Maggy’s wealth of expertise at the intersection of creativity, data and technology make her ideally suited to lead our operational functions at Wellcome. A warm and empathetic leader, she has a passion for fostering organisational culture and people development.

“Along with the rest of our Executive Committee, I am looking forward to working with our three new leaders, who all passionately share in Wellcome’s mission and vision to support science that solve urgent health challenges.”