Royal Society of Medicine appoints Michele Acton as new Chief Executive

The Royal Society of Medicine has today announced the appointment of Michele Acton as Chief Executive. Ms Acton will join the RSM from the eye research charity Fight for Sight where she has held the position of chief executive since 2006. She will take up her RSM role in May.

Ms Acton led the transformation of Fight for Sight into a national charity focused on addressing sight loss that now has an £8 million research commitment to scientists and healthcare professionals at over 40 universities and hospitals. She is also a Trustee of the Centre for Ageing Better, a member of the What Works Network. She worked previously as chief executive at UCL Hospitals Charitable Foundation and before that as an investment banker, latterly at HSBC Investment Bank.

The Royal Society of Medicine is one of the UK’s major providers of post-graduate medical education and each year organises nearly 400 academic and public events that provide a multi-disciplinary forum for discussion and debate. As Chief Executive, Ms Acton will be responsible for delivering the strategy agreed by the RSM Council and championing initiatives that meet the Society’s charitable remit. She will be responsible to both the RSM President and Council. 

Professor Sir Simon Wessely, President of the Royal Society of Medicine, said: “We are delighted to appoint Michele Acton as our new chief executive. These are exciting times for the Society as we transform the way in which we deliver postgraduate education to the medical community. Michele’s experience of leading organisational change will be invaluable and the Trustees are looking forward to working with her to achieve the Society’s goals.”

Speaking about her new role at the RSM, Ms Acton said: “The Society has a long and distinguished history and ambitious plans to develop further its high-quality educational and learning programmes that meet the changing needs of healthcare professionals. It is a privilege to be appointed as the new chief executive and I am very much looking forward to taking up the role and working with the team to deliver those plans.”