Harpal Kumar

Sir Harpal Kumar

Name	Sir Harpal Kumar
Birth name
Birth date	1965
Birth place	India
Death date
Death place
Alma mater
Occupation	Business Executive
Years active
Organization
Known for	Former CEO of Cancer Research UK
Notable works
Spouse(s)
Website

Sir Harpal Singh Kumar (born 1965) is a prominent British business executive known for his significant contributions to cancer research and healthcare innovation. He served as the Chief Executive Officer of Cancer Research UK, one of the world's leading cancer charities, from 2007 to 2018. Under his leadership, the organization made substantial advancements in cancer research, treatment, and prevention.

Early Life and Education

Harpal Kumar was born in India and moved to the United Kingdom at a young age. He attended Christ's College, Cambridge, where he earned a degree in chemical engineering. He later pursued an MBA from Harvard Business School, where he was recognized as a Baker Scholar, an honor awarded to the top 5% of the graduating class.

Career

Early Career

Before joining Cancer Research UK, Kumar worked in various roles in the healthcare and technology sectors. He was a principal at McKinsey & Company, where he focused on healthcare and technology strategy. He also served as CEO of The Papworth Trust, a disability charity, and founded Nexan Group, a venture capital-backed medical device company.

Cancer Research UK

Kumar joined Cancer Research UK in 2002 as Chief Operating Officer and was appointed CEO in 2007. During his tenure, he led several key initiatives, including the establishment of the Francis Crick Institute, a major biomedical research center in London. He also played a pivotal role in the development of the Cancer Research UK Centre for Drug Development, which focuses on translating scientific discoveries into new cancer treatments.

Under Kumar's leadership, Cancer Research UK launched the "Stand Up To Cancer" campaign in the UK, raising millions of pounds for cancer research. He was instrumental in advocating for increased government funding for cancer research and worked to improve public awareness and understanding of cancer prevention and treatment.

Later Career

After leaving Cancer Research UK in 2018, Kumar joined Johnson & Johnson as the Head of Innovation EMEA, where he continues to work on advancing healthcare solutions and fostering innovation in the medical field.

Honors and Recognition

In recognition of his services to cancer research, Harpal Kumar was knighted in the 2016 New Year Honours list. He has received numerous awards for his contributions to healthcare and has been a vocal advocate for patient-centered care and innovation in medical research.

Personal Life

Kumar is married and has two children. He is passionate about education and serves on the boards of several educational and healthcare organizations.

Also see

• Cancer Research UK
• Francis Crick Institute
• Stand Up To Cancer
• Johnson & Johnson
• New Year Honours