News

Welcoming our Chairman: William Rucker

We are pleased to announce that Mr William Rucker has been appointed to the role of Chairman for the UK Dementia Research Institute.

As Chairman of the UK DRI Board, William will lead its collective responsibility for the effective governance and development of the UK DRI, setting its strategic direction and major policies with the rest of the Board, the Directors and senior UK DRI staff in line with the institute's objectives.

Bringing a huge wealth of experience, William will be of huge value in setting up our new institute. He is the CEO of Lazard in the UK (part of the Lazard Group), an investment bank that specialises in Asset Management and Advisory businesses. Mr Rucker joined Lazard in 1987 from Arthur Andersen, where he qualified as an accountant.

Helping create a world-class institute, dealing with one of the most serious diseases of our time, is critical. It is a real pleasure to join a team of such quality that has already been assembled and I am looking forward to working with them over the coming years. Dementia has touched many of our lives through relatives who have suffered and finding ways to make a positive impact could not be more important William Rucker, UK DRI Chairman

William is also Chairman of Crest Nicholson PLC, the UK housebuilder. Previous roles include Chairman of Quintain, a London based property developer, and Chairman and one of the founders of Newbridge, a specialist eating disorder business. Founded in 2007, Newbridge was acquired by the German healthcare company, Shoen, in 2017. William is also a Trustee of the Racing Foundation, which was set up following the sale of the Tote to make a difference to the horse racing and thoroughbred breeding industry.

In his role at Lazard, William has advised a broad range of UK and overseas companies as well as the UK Government on various transactions including the sale of Blood Plasma Limited.

The tremendous experience of William Rucker in the financial and managerial world will be of great help while building the UK Dementia Research Institute. We are very pleased that William has joined us in working towards our vision: a world where research conquers dementia. Prof Bart De Strooper, UK DRI Director