Jon Spiers joins the Royal Free Charity as chief executive from the autism research charity Autistica, where he held the same role.

Spiers has worked with stakeholders across the health sector during his charity sector career, including those in pharmaceutical companies and clinical areas covering cancer, genomics, HIV, meningitis, infectious diseases and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

He has also worked at Cancer Research UK as its head of public affairs and campaigning, which included the charity’s campaign for anti-smoking legislation.

The Royal Free Charity supports the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust.

“I’m enormously excited to join the Royal Free Charity today,” said Spiers, who is also a trustee of the Association of Medical Research Charities.

“While the impact of coronavirus on the NHS, on patients and on research has of course been immense, we’ve also seen the public’s love for the health service reach new heights. I want to pay tribute to the incredible generosity of our supporters throughout the pandemic and to the tireless efforts of staff at the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust’s three hospitals and to staff and volunteers at the charity.”

He added: “In dark times, the NHS is a beacon of hope. I look forward to making that beacon burn even brighter. Working side-by-side with the trust, the charity will be able to accelerate efforts to improve the wellbeing of the staff and patients we serve.

“In a fast-changing and unpredictable world, we’re here to back the clinical innovations, research breakthroughs and vital staff and services that change lives not only here in north London but across the world.”

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