Cochrane’s Governing Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Karla Soares-Weiser as the organization’s new Chief Executive Officer.

Karla has been acting Chief Executive Officer for Cochrane since March 2025 and prior to this she was Cochrane’s Editor-in-Chief, a role she has held since 2019. During her time at Cochrane, Karla has led significant advancements in how the organization develops and publishes evidence syntheses. She oversaw the creation of Cochrane’s first scientific strategy and introduced major improvements to editorial workflows. Under her leadership, Cochrane has optimized its editorial processes, substantially reducing the time to publish high-priority systematic reviews ensuring timely, reliable evidence to support decision-making.

Karla said “I am honoured to take on the role of Chief Executive Officer at Cochrane. In our rapidly changing world, Cochrane’s mission to produce trusted evidence has never been more critical. I am looking forward to taking the organization to the next level, building on our reputation for quality and rigour while rapidly evolving to meet the needs of today’s decision-makers. I am excited to collaborate with our partners and community across the world, particularly in the Global South, to create a more dynamic, open and equitable system.”

Chair of the Governing Board, Dr Susan Phillips said: “On behalf of the Governing Board, I am delighted to appoint Karla as the new Chief Executive Officer for the Cochrane Collaboration. She has the vision, experience and passion to lead Cochrane to a bright new future and I am excited to work with her to realise that vision. Under Karla’s leadership, we will ensure that Cochrane is fit for the future, embedding equity in everything we do and ensuring that decision-makers can access the right evidence at the right time.”  

Karla, a board-certified psychiatrist, brings over three decades of experience in health care research and leadership. She holds a master’s degree in mental health epidemiology from the State University of Campinas, a doctorate in evidence-based medicine from the Federal University of São Paulo, and certifications in leadership from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.