Publish date: 06 October 2020

The Dutch government has appointed Marcel as the chairman and chief executive of the Netherlands Research Council and Chief Scientific Officer of the Netherlands.

Julia Neuberger said “On behalf of UCLH's board, staff and patients I would like to express our gratitude and admiration to Marcel. He has been a superb chief executive and an outstanding leader, and his leadership and 24/7 presence at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic was quite extraordinary. We at UCLH owe him an immense debt of gratitude.

“The Board will be beginning the process of searching for his successor. Now, however, is the time both to congratulate Marcel on his new appointment and to express our sadness that he is leaving us.”

Marcel Levi was appointed chief executive of UCLH in January 2017. He has had a distinguished career as a clinician, academic and clinical leader. Previously he was chairman of the executive board of the Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam.

Marcel said “By March next year I will have been at UCLH for four years and I am extremely grateful to have worked alongside so many excellent people. It has been an honour to lead such a fantastic organisation, particularly during the last six months when our teams have shown such professionalism and compassion in the most challenging of circumstances.

“I want to say a huge thank you to staff for their support and all they do for our patients every day. I feel very proud to be part of this amazing team and such an incredible institution.”

The next few months will give some time for the chair and the Board to identify a successor and support the transition into role of a new chief executive.