Nesta gets Ravi Gurumurthy as new chief executive

NESTA, the UK’s leading innovation foundation, has announced that Indian-origin Ravi Gurumurthy will join as its new chief executive at the end of this year.

Gurumurthy, currently chief innovation officer and founder of the Airbel Center at the International Rescue Committee in New York, will replace Geoff Mulgan, who has led Nesta since 2011.

In his current role, Gurumurthy is responsible for the International Rescue Committee’s work in designing, testing, scaling products and services for people affected by the crisis in over 40 countries.

Mulgan oversaw the transition of Nesta from a non-departmental public body reporting to the government to an independent charity.

Under Mulgan’s leadership, Nesta expanded its scale of activity and today employs over 300 people.

Sir John Gieve, chair of Nesta’s Board of Trustees, said: “I am delighted to welcome Ravi to Nesta. His record of strategic thinking and innovation will help him build on Geoff Mulgan’s achievement in transforming Nesta from a quango to an independent charity promoting innovation for social good.

“There are huge opportunities today to use new technology and science to transform society for the better and to meet the challenges we face - from climate change to the loss of trust in big institutions. Under Ravi, I am confident Nesta will continue to nurture the best innovations, show that they work and collaborate to scale.”

Nesta is an organisation which uses innovative methods and investments to tackle big challenges facing society, from the frontiers of personalised healthcare to stretched public services and a fast-changing job market.

Working both nationally and globally in partnership with foundations, governments and corporate entities, Nesta spends over £40 million a year working to develop high-impact solutions that can change lives for the better.