St. Jude Names Charles Roberts as New President and CEO

The appointment concludes an extensive international search conducted by the firm Spencer Stuart to find a successor for current CEO Dr. James R. Downing. Since joining the hospital in 2015, Roberts has been instrumental in the institution's scientific growth, steering the Cancer Center to consecutive "Exceptional" rankings from the National Cancer Institute. Beyond his administrative oversight, he is a noted researcher whose work in cancer epigenetics has directly contributed to FDA-approved therapies for pediatric and adult patients.

Advancing Collaborative Research

Roberts’ tenure as director was defined by a push for large-scale, multi-institutional partnerships. He spearheaded initiatives such as the Pediatric Cancer Dependencies Accelerator and the Collaborative Academic Developmental Therapeutics program with Stanford University and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Judy Habib, chair of the St. Jude Board of Governors, noted that his ability to bridge the gap between clinical care and rigorous academic research made him the clear choice to guide the hospital’s future. As he prepares to lead the organization, Roberts intends to focus on leveraging emerging technologies to accelerate discovery, emphasizing that global collaboration remains the most effective path to improving survival rates for children facing catastrophic diseases.