Catherine Spencer OBE, who served as the Cochrane Collaboration’s Chief Executive Officer since 2022, has decided to step down from the role.

Catherine has led Cochrane through transformational change, developing a new strategy for a more evidence-informed world and ensuring the organization is well-placed to deliver it. She has helped to cement Cochrane’s reputation as a world-leading source of trustworthy evidence and expand the charity’s reach and impact around the world.

“I have been so fortunate to work with incredibly talented and loyal colleagues, Board Members and community members,” said Catherine. “All have worked hard to ensure that Cochrane has a great future and is a wonderful environment in which to work and grow. I wish all the team well as they focus on the continued success of Cochrane.”

The Governing Board has appointed Dr Karla Soares-Weiser as Acting CEO while they prepare to recruit the next CEO. Cochrane’s Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Toby Lasserson, will serve as Acting Editor-in-Chief.

Dr Susan Phillips, Chair of Cochrane’s Governing Board, said:

“The Governing Board would like to thank Catherine for her valued contribution to Cochrane and Cochrane community. In her time as CEO, she has ensured that the organization has a warm and collaborative culture that fosters innovation and trust.

“We wish to acknowledge the important contribution Catherine has made towards stabilizing Cochrane’s operations, developing the 2024-2027 Organizational Strategy, supporting Cochrane’s transition to a centralized editorial service and implementing the Roadmap to Open Access.

“Consequently, Cochrane is in a strong position, and we anticipate building on these achievements. Our priorities will be to strengthen Cochrane’s evidence synthesis model, including our use of AI tools, and to develop business models and methods which make us more responsive to funders’ needs.”

Preparations to recruit the next CEO will be led by Cochrane’s Governing Board.