St. Jude Children's Research Hospital has chosen its new president and CEO.
Dr. Charles W.M. Roberts, executive vice president and director of the St. Jude Comprehensive Cancer Center, will be the institution's next president and chief executive, the hospital announced in an Aug. 18 press release.
Roberts will succeed Dr. James R. Downing, who served more than a decade in that position and is stepping down at the end of this year. Downing is transitioning to a role in St. Jude's Department of Global Pediatric Medicine.
“I’m deeply honored to have been selected to lead this institution at a pivotal moment, when emerging technologies are creating unprecedented opportunities to accelerate discovery,” Roberts said in the release. “Meeting this challenge
will require collaboration across disciplines, institutions and borders. I look forward to continuing to work with partners around the world to transform outcomes for children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases everywhere.”
Roberts joined St. Jude in 2015 as the director of the Comprehensive Cancer Center, where he oversaw St. Jude's cancer research. St. Jude credits Roberts with the center's "Exceptional” ranking by the National Cancer Institute.
Roberts will begin his tenure on Jan. 1, 2027.
Jack Armstrong covers breaking news and the environment for The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at jack.armstrong@commercialappeal.com and followed on X @jca2902.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: St. Jude announces new CEO to succeed James R. Downing
