The British Heart Foundation (BHF) has appointed former CRUK deputy chair Wendy Becker to lead its board of trustees.

She joins BHF as chair having held a raft of senior positions across the private sector, including as chief executive of Jack Wills and chief marketing officer at Vodafone Group. She has also held top roles at TalkTalk, McKinsey and Procter and Gamble.

Becker also served on Cancer Research UK’s board for several years, latterly as its deputy chair.

At BHF she replaces Doug Gurr, the current director of the National History Museum, who is stepping down.

“I’m delighted to be welcoming Wendy to the BHF as our next Chair,” said BHF chief executive Charmaine Griffiths.

“I have no doubt that Wendy’s leadership, passion for research and expertise across medical, technology and commercial sectors will enhance the impact we have for millions of families affected by heart and circulatory diseases.”

Becker added: “The BHF has shown remarkable resilience through the COVID-19 pandemic, but its lifesaving research is now needed more than ever by millions of people living with heart and circulatory diseases.

“I am immensely excited to be joining the team as it seeks to inspire even greater support for ground-breaking science on the cusp of lifesaving advances.”

In May the BHF launched a new equality, diversity and inclusion strategy.

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