It is with a mix of sadness and gratitude that we announce the departure of our Executive Director, Flóra Raffai, from the Findacure team. Flóra started working as Project Manager in 2013, at which point she was the only Findacure team member. In late-2015, she took over the complete running of the charity after moving to the Executive Director position. Our Head of Research, Dr Rick Thompson, will be taking up the CEO role following Flóra’s departure on Friday, 12th May.
Flóra has built Findacure up to what it is today, and we can say with certainty that it wouldn’t have grown nearly so quickly without her dedication and hard work. Findacure is a flourishing non-profit and many of our projects, including training workshops, mentoring, and our online resources portal for patient groups and advocates, were initiated by her. Flóra will be sorely missed by the team, though she will still remain part of the rare diseases community through her role as trustee for the Cambridge Rare Diseases Network.
Dr Rick Thompson, who will be taking up the CEO role, is the second-longest serving team member behind Flóra, having joined in early 2015. He has been instrumental in leading Findacure’s scientific projects and developing the world’s first drug repurposing social impact bond. We have no doubts that he will excel as the CEO of Findacure, and that he will help the charity achieve even greater things in the rare diseases field.
To take the place as the fourth member of the team, we will be hiring a new Projects Officer. Applications are now closed for the position and interviews are being booked. Watch this space for more news!
We wish Flóra the best for her new role as CEO at Cam Sight, and the same for Rick in his new position as CEO at Findacure. If you would like to contact either Flóra or Rick, you can do so by emailing flora@findacure.org.uk or rick@findacure.org.uk respectively.