Michelle Mitchell

Who Michelle Mitchell is

Michelle Mitchell OBE has served as Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK since November 2018, with responsibility for the overall leadership and management of the world's leading charitable funder of cancer research. Before joining CRUK she was CEO of the MS Society for five years and a founding member of the Progressive MS Alliance, and prior to that served as Director General at Age UK for nearly a decade. She contributes to steering groups for the Department for Health and Social Care's National Cancer Plan and the 10-Year Health Plan for England, and has previously served as a non-executive director of NHS England and as a Trustee of the King's Fund. Under her leadership, CRUK published a manifesto outlining policy actions to help prevent up to 20,000 cancer deaths annually by 2040, and launched 'More Research, Less Cancer', described as the largest philanthropic campaign ever undertaken by a UK charity. She was awarded an OBE in 2015 for services to the charity sector.

References for this biography

1. 1.Chief Executive and Executive Board | Cancer Research UK — Role title, appointment date, career history, qualifications, OBE, strategic leadership at CRUK, National Cancer Plan contributions
2. 2.Michelle Mitchell | Francis Crick Institute — Appointment as Chief Executive of CRUK in November 2018; non-executive experience at NHS England and King's Fund
3. 3.Michelle Mitchell OBE Recognized Among The 100 Most Influential People in Oncology in 2025 – OncoDaily — Recognition in oncology; manifesto for cancer policy; More Research, Less Cancer philanthropic campaign
4. 4.Ep 25. Michelle Mitchell OBE, CEO Cancer Research UK | The Charity CEO Podcast — First female CEO of CRUK; prior CEO of MS Society; OBE 2015
5. 5.74,000 cancer patients not treated on time in 2024 – Cancer Research UK News — Mitchell publicly quoted on NHS cancer waiting times and government accountability
6. 6.Cancer Research UK – Charity Commission Register — Organisation head office address and postcode: 2 Redman Place, London E20 1JQ
7. 7.Michelle Mitchell (@Michelle_CRUK) on X — Confirmed X/Twitter account for Michelle Mitchell, identified as Chief Executive at Cancer Research UK
8. 8.Michelle Mitchell OBE – LinkedIn — Confirmed LinkedIn account identifying her as CEO at Cancer Research UK (CRUK)

Notable achievements

• Led publication of a manifesto outlining policy actions to help prevent up to 20,000 cancer deaths annually by 2040, and launched 'More Research, Less Cancer', the largest philanthropic campaign ever undertaken by a UK charity. Source ↗
• Appointed Cancer Research UK's first female Chief Executive in November 2018. Source ↗
• Recognised among the 100 Most Influential People in Oncology in 2025 by OncoDaily. Source ↗
• Awarded an OBE in 2015 for services to the charity sector. Source ↗
• Set CRUK on a new long-term strategic course with the launch of its 10-year strategy in 2022 following navigation of the COVID-19 pandemic. Source ↗

What Michelle Mitchell has said

• “The cancer crisis in Northern Ireland is urgent, with the time to start cancer treatment steadily worsening over the last 16 years. The time to act is now. The next Executive needs to make cancer a priority by urgently tackling waiting times, diagnosing more cancers earlier and giving patients quicker access to the best treatment.”

  chief executive of Cancer Research UK · Cancer · 29 Sept 2026 · How Northern Ireland can save almost 6,000 lives from cancer ↗

• “Northern Ireland's cancer crisis is "urgent", with waiting times worsening steadily over the last 16 years. "Northern Ireland cancer waiting times are now the worst in the UK," she said. "The time to act is now."”

  Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK · Cancer · 29 Sept 2026 · Aisling Gallagher joins push to fix NI’s cancer crisis ↗

• “This vital step from NHS England to lower the threshold for further tests after bowel screening will save lives. It means more cancers will be detected at an earlier stage, when treatment is more likely to be successful, while also preventing some from developing in the first place.”

  Cancer Research UK chief executive · Cancer · 10 Sept 2026 · NHS England to lower FIT test threshold triggering bowel cancer investigation ↗

• “This is an incredible milestone and major progress in our mission to beat cancer. We know the HPV vaccine is extremely effective at stopping cervical cancer before it starts and for the first time, these findings show it is saving lives.”

  Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK · Cancer · 10 Sept 2026 · HPV vaccine has prevented 200 cervical cancer deaths in England so far ↗

• “There was no time to waste in taking long-discussed and urgently needed action to improve what are – by international standards – England's low rates of early detection of cancer.”

  Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK · Hospital discharge / bed-blocking · 27 Aug 2026 · Offer cancer patients exercise on NHS, major charity urges ↗

• “No one should be at a greater risk of dying of cancer because of where they live, but cancer death rates are around a third higher for people living in the most deprived areas of England compared to the least deprived.”

  chief executive of Cancer Research UK · Hospital discharge / bed-blocking · 27 Aug 2026 · Rural and coastal areas of England to get more cancer doctors ↗

• “Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the UK, but diagnosing it at an earlier stage can significantly improve people's chances of survival. New technologies like this have huge potential, and tests to ensure they're accurate and beneficial for patients in the real world should happen quickly so that innovations can reach everyone sooner.”

  chief executive of Cancer Research UK · Hospital discharge / bed-blocking · 27 Aug 2026 · NHS England to trial AI and robotic tools to detect and diagnose lung cancer ↗

• “England lags behind comparable countries on cancer survival and it's vital that this changes, so more people affected by cancer can live longer, better lives.”

  chief executive of Cancer Research UK (CRUK) · Hospital discharge / bed-blocking · 27 Aug 2026 · Three-quarters of cancer patients in England will survive by 2035, government pledges ↗

• “More people are being diagnosed with cancer than ever before. Although cancer survival has doubled since the 1970s, progress has slowed over the last decade. The UK government's recently published national cancer plan for England could make a big difference, but only if it turns into improvements for cancer patients.”

  Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK · Hospital discharge / bed-blocking · 27 Aug 2026 · One person diagnosed with cancer every 80 seconds in UK, report reveals ↗

• “The fact that most of these cases are preventable underlines the importance of people taking sun safety seriously. Take care when the sun is strong by seeking shade, covering up and applying sunscreen and, if you notice any unusual changes to your skin, contact your GP.”

  Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK · Hospital discharge / bed-blocking · 27 Aug 2026 · Melanoma skin cancer cases in UK hit record level, analysis finds ↗

• “We know that when public figures speak openly about their cancer diagnosis, it can prompt others to check in on their health and speak to a GP if something is worrying them. We wish his majesty well with his continued recovery.”

  Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK · Cancer · 27 Aug 2026 · King Charles hails reduction in cancer treatment as ‘milestone’ in his recovery ↗

• “Globally and in the UK, we're seeing a small increase in cancer rates in adults under 50. The picture is complex and we need more research to understand what's driving the trend, but this study helps to fill in some gaps.”

  chief executive of Cancer Research UK · Cancer · 27 Aug 2026 · Obesity a key factor for rising cancer rates in young people in England, study finds ↗

• “Cervical screening is a powerful tool that saves lives – it can prevent cervical cancer or spot it at an earlier stage when treatment is more likely to be successful.”

  Chief executive of Cancer Research UK · Hospital discharge / bed-blocking · 27 Aug 2026 · NHS England to offer women ‘gamechanging’ free home testing kits for cervical cancer ↗

• “we are in a "golden age for cancer research"”

  head of Cancer Research UK · Cancer · 27 Aug 2026 · The Guardian view on cancer treatments: new hope for patients now and in the future | Editorial ↗

Recent social activity

• It was great to join the Health Foundation podcast alongside @jesper_fisker, CEO of @cancer_dk to talk about the upcoming National Cancer Plan and what we can learn from the success of Denmark's cancer strategy. Listen here: https://t.co/e2wToESZBY

  x.com ↗

• It's an exciting day as @CR_UK launches cancer manifestos for Scotland and Wales ahead of next year’s elections. We’re calling on all political parties to make strong commitments to transform cancer outcomes in both nations. Change is possible and, with bold and urgent action,

  x.com ↗

Where Michelle Mitchell has been quoted

1. Cancer in the UK: what’s needed as cases exceed 400,000 a yearnews.cancerresearchuk.org · 30 Sept 2026
2. How Northern Ireland can save almost 6,000 lives from cancernews.cancerresearchuk.org · 29 Sept 2026
3. Aisling Gallagher joins push to fix NI’s cancer crisisnewsletter.co.uk · 29 Sept 2026
4. NHS England to lower FIT test threshold triggering bowel cancer investigationpulsetoday.co.uk · 10 Sept 2026
5. HPV vaccine has prevented 200 cervical cancer deaths in England so farpulsetoday.co.uk · 10 Sept 2026
6. Offer cancer patients exercise on NHS, major charity urgestheguardian.com · 27 Aug 2026
7. Rural and coastal areas of England to get more cancer doctorstheguardian.com · 27 Aug 2026
8. NHS England to trial AI and robotic tools to detect and diagnose lung cancertheguardian.com · 27 Aug 2026
9. Three-quarters of cancer patients in England will survive by 2035, government pledgestheguardian.com · 27 Aug 2026
10. One person diagnosed with cancer every 80 seconds in UK, report revealstheguardian.com · 27 Aug 2026
11. Melanoma skin cancer cases in UK hit record level, analysis findstheguardian.com · 27 Aug 2026
12. King Charles hails reduction in cancer treatment as ‘milestone’ in his recoverytheguardian.com · 27 Aug 2026
13. Obesity a key factor for rising cancer rates in young people in England, study findstheguardian.com · 27 Aug 2026
14. NHS England to offer women ‘gamechanging’ free home testing kits for cervical cancertheguardian.com · 27 Aug 2026
15. The Guardian view on cancer treatments: new hope for patients now and in the future | Editorialtheguardian.com · 27 Aug 2026

Related media coverage

Recent UK press coverage of their topics — not necessarily citing them directly.

• Patient complaints to NHS Ayrshire & Arran rise by 13 per cent in a yearThe Herald
• Readers share experiences as Wrexham Maelor A&E waits among longest in WalesLeader Live
• We are providing unsafe levels of care even before winter, says leading Scottish A&E doctorThe Scotsman

Contact & links

• Staff pagehttps://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-us/how-we-are-run/chief-executive-and-executive-board
• LinkedInhttps://uk.linkedin.com/in/michelle-mitchell-obe-56703428
• Xhttps://x.com/Michelle_CRUKpublished here ↗
• Press office emailhttps://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-us/press-office

Organisational contact points only, each taken from a page the organisation publishes itself. No personal or direct contact details are held or shown.