Former Argent director to lead major genome campus

Former Argent director of King’s Cross Robert Evans has been appointed as chief executive of the Wellcome Genome Campus in Hinxton, Cambridgeshire. Wellcome Genome Campus is an investment subsidiary of Wellcome, the charitable foundation which supports science to solve urgent health challenges. The company will manage the campus and oversee its expansion, aiming to attract the most innovative companies in genomics and biodata worldwide. Wellcome kicked off plans for a phased expansion of the campus earlier this year. The group already has outline planning to expand it to include as much as 1.6m sq ft of flexible employment space alongside 1,500 homes, a nursery, hotel, retail facilities, restaurants, cafés, bars, leisure facilities, landscaping and public realm, an energy centre, utilities and car and cycle parking. The first phase, which has a gross development value of £1bn, will span 315 acres, creating 180,000 sq ft of lab space, 400 homes for campus staff and community amenities such as shops, a leisure centre and green spaces. Alongside Evans as chief executive, the Genome Campus business also boasts former Landsec director Colette O’Shea as chief operating officer and Matt Green as chief financial officer. Green previously spent 13 years at the Office Group, helping to expand the flex business. Phil Clark, executive chair of Wellcome Genome Campus, said: “We have put a team in place who have outstanding records of success. Their expertise in delivering the highest-quality inspirational and sustainable places is what will make this campus one of the best locations in the world to do life science. We are creating opportunities for a community of scientific innovators to collaborate and make new discoveries. This remarkable project will not only directly boost science in the UK, but also deliver commercial returns to Wellcome to power its charitable mission of supporting science to solve urgent health challenges around the world.” Evans said he was joining the business at a “very exciting time” and that the expansion would provide new facilities that enhance the current offer to occupiers and deliver opportunities for new activities, research and commercial endeavours. As chief executive, Evans will be tasked with leading the campus management team and working in partnership with Urban&Civic, the site’s master developer, to play a pivotal role in the expansion of the campus, alongside engaging with potential occupiers globally. The first phase of the development, approved by Wellcome’s board last year, will unlock development across the 315-acre extension site by putting in place crucial infrastructure and readying parcels of land.