Sir Harpal Kumar served as Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK from 2007 to 2018 — leading the world's largest independent cancer research charity through a decade of transformational growth. Under his leadership, the organisation's annual income grew from £400 million to over £700 million.
Born in Kenya to Indian parents and educated in the UK, he brought scientific rigour and entrepreneurial energy to the leadership of Cancer Research UK. He oversaw the establishment of the Francis Crick Institute — one of Europe's largest biomedical research centres — and dramatically accelerated the organisation's investment in cancer drug discovery.
He was knighted in 2019 for his services to cancer research. His work has contributed to the development of treatments that have saved thousands of lives and represents an extraordinary contribution to the health and wellbeing of people across the UK and beyond.