Graham Le Gros will remain with the organisation as deputy chair.
Kjesten Wiig has been deputy director of the Malaghan Institute since early this year.
After 30 years as director of the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, Professor Graham Le Gros is handing over the baton to Professor Kjesten Wiig.
Le Gros will continue with the institute as deputy chair of the trust board and as an advisor to Wiig, who was appointed deputy director earlier this year to transition into the director role.
Graham Le Gros.
Chair Sir Paul Collins said Wiig had already proven her readiness, ambition and vision for the role.
“She has big shoes to fill after Graham’s extraordinary tenure, but she’s poised to build on Graham’s legacy and forge her own,” he said.
“This will continue be a strong and seamless transition and, alongside a refreshed and strengthened governance team, places the Malaghan Institute in an excellent position for the future.”
Wiig has held senior leadership roles at the institute since 2022. A neuroscientist by training, her career has spanned senior leadership roles in academia, industry and government, all with a focus on advancing science and innovation.
“Graham has built an amazing organisation that I feel privileged to lead, bringing considerable learnings from my time spent in ambitious, US-based drug discovery companies, as well as central government here in New Zealand, to the role,” she said.
Le Gros said it was time to transition to a new leadership team, with Wiig “ably supported” by Mike Zablocki as general manager, and other senior leaders.
“This change takes the Malaghan Institute into a new era as we continue to be ambitious about what can be achieved here in New Zealand for the benefit of global health – tackling diseases that affect us all.”
The new appointments will take effect from January 1.
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