Harwell: Diamond Light Source appoints CEO

Professor Andrew Harrison has been appointed chief executive officer of the UK’s national synchrotron Diamond Light Source (Diamond) with effect from January 2014. 

Based on the Harwell Oxford Campus in Oxfordshire, Diamond is operated as a joint venture between the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) which holds 86% of the shares, and the Wellcome Trust with 14%.

With applications in virtually all fields of scientific research, Diamond plays a major role in keeping the UK at the forefront of science, with 2,287 journal articles published to date and 1,464 protein structures deposited in the World Protein Databank since the facility came online in 2007.

Having been director general of the Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL) neutron source in Grenoble, France, since 2011, Harrison brings 30 years of scientific leadership to the organisation. He grew up in Keele and graduated from Oxford University with a degree and DPhil in chemistry. After working as a Royal Society university research fellow, he joined Edinburgh University in 1992, becoming professor of solid state chemistry in 2000, and was founding director of the Centre for Science at Extreme Conditions in 2001 before joining ILL in 2006 as science director.

Diamond Board chairman Lord Broers commented: “Professor Harrison brings to the role a wealth of science and management experience, and the Board is delighted that he has chosen to return to the UK to take up this prestigious role.

“With Phase III construction underway to be delivered by 2018 and the increasing portfolio of experiments undertaken at Diamond, his proactive approach and scientific expertise will be key ingredients to drive the organisation forward.”

Harrison said: “I am delighted to be joining the team at Diamond. The facility is known the world over for its success, both in terms of its machine performance and reliability and for the outstanding science delivered so far. I look forward to leading the organisation and building on the tremendous work of its staff over the past decade.”