Sir Menelas (Mene) Pangalos was previously Executive Vice-President at AstraZeneca, where he led BioPharmaceutical research and development and the creation of the company’s new Global R&D Centre in Cambridge. In his thirteen years at AstraZeneca, Sir Mene championed an innovative, open approach to academic-industry collaborations, and pioneered a remarkable transformation of the company’s R&D productivity, resulting in success rates four-times higher than the industry average. He also led AstraZeneca’s R&D response to COVID-19, including partnering with Oxford University in the global development of a vaccine. The team was awarded the Copley Medal by the Royal Society in 2023.

Sir Mene has received Honorary Doctorates from Glasgow University and Imperial College London, holds an Honorary Fellowship of the British Pharmacological Society, is a Fellow of The Royal Society, the Academy of Medical Sciences, and the Royal Society of Biology. In 2019, Sir Mene was awarded a Knighthood for his services to UK science.