Mitchell Harris joins Genomics plc as Chief Strategy Officer

Mitchell joins Genomics plc from Abcam, where he was Global Head, Emerging Business Lines.

Mitchell Harris joined Genomics plc from Abcam, where he was Global Head, Emerging Business Lines and had previously been Head of Proteins Portfolio Commercial and Business Development. Prior to this, he was a Principal at QuantumBlack – the AI and advanced analytics arm of McKinsey & Company – and Engagement Manager at McKinsey & Company, where he was part of the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Products Practice.

Mitchell brings to Genomics substantial commercial expertise within strategy, transactions, and operations. At Abcam he was a key senior leader involved in diversifying the product portfolio into high growth adjacencies. At McKinsey, Mitchell specialised in advising globally significant corporate and private equity clients on strategy, investment, and business model design; with a focus on life sciences and other high-tech industries. He was also part of the public and social sector practice, advising governments and social sector organisations on strategy, innovation, and economic growth.

Mitchell also has a deep understanding of the policy and public affairs landscape. Prior to McKinsey, Mitchell was a fast stream civil servant at the UK Cabinet Office. Additionally, from 2012 – 2015, Mitchell was a Policy Fellow within the University of Cambridge’s Centre for Science and Policy, focused on life sciences, innovation ecosystems, and value creation for health systems.

Mitchell Harris said: “I am thrilled to be joining Genomics plc and to work alongside world leaders in human genetics and data science. This is an exciting and pivotal time for the company’s growth as we accelerate and deepen our impact within drug development and genomic prevention. I hope that together with patients, healthcare systems, and our partners, we can play an important role in the quest for a new, more sustainable, and more equitable model of drug development and healthcare.”

Professor Gil McVean assumes CIO role.

Following the announcement of his appointment in September last year, Professor Gil McVean has now commenced his role as Chief Information Officer and a member of the senior leadership team. Gil, already a director and a founder of the company, will take the lead in shaping and implementing the company’s data strategy, drawing on his experience as world leader in the analysis of population-scale genomic data.

His distinguished academic work in human genetics and his work in big data and machine learning as the founding Director of the Big Data Institute at the University of Oxford, will help Genomics maximise its impact on the rapidly evolving landscape of using genomic insights to transform drug discovery and precision health.

Professor Gil McVean said: “I am pleased to be joining Genomics plc, alongside Mitchell and such a dynamic team. As a founder of Genomics, it is exciting to see how the company has grown and how together we are using genetic information to bring benefits to healthcare systems, the life sciences industry and, ultimately, patients.”

Professor Sir Peter Donnelly, CEO of Genomics, said: “We are delighted to be welcoming Mitchell and Gil to their new roles at Genomics. With both Mitchell and Gil joining us, we are confident that we have a strong and experienced management team to facilitate our growth in 2020 and beyond. Mitchell’s depth of knowledge and experience of the sector will enable him to support Genomics plc’s position at the forefront of this emerging field and help to deliver solutions to make healthcare and life sciences more efficient and effective. While Gil can draw on his world-leading expertise in big data, machine learning, and human and statistical genetics, to embrace the rapidly advancing world of genomic data which promises to transform healthcare.”

Contact

Ben Atwell and Rob Winder at FTI Consulting
+44 (0)20 3720 1000
scgenomicsplc@fticonsulting.com