Robert Evans, formerly of Related Argent, has joined Wellcome Genome Campus as chief executive.
Evans spent 23 years at Related Argent – formerly Argent – and was chief executive of King’s Cross N1C where he oversaw the King’s Cross development.
In his new role, Evans will lead the management team of the South Cambridgeshire campus and work in partnership with Urban&Civic – the site’s master developer – to deliver the expansion of the campus.
The first phase of expansion, which was 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 sq ft of new lab space alongside new homes, retail and leisure space and new wildlife habitat.
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.”
Evans added: “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.”
