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Michele Acton

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Michele Acton
Chief Executive of the Royal Society of Medicine
Incumbent
Assumed office
2019
Personal details
Born25 June 1967
NationalityBritish
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1994; div. 2006)​
EducationTrinity College, Oxford 

Michele Louise Acton (born 25 June 1967) is the current Chief Executive of the Royal Society of Medicine. A former Investment Banker, she is the Principal-Elect of St Hugh's College, Oxford.[1]

Career

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Acton was born on 25 June 1967[2] and read Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) at Trinity College, Oxford.[3] Acton began her career as an Investment Banker in the City of London for fifteen years, working at Barings Bank, Merrill Lynch & Co. and HSBC Investment Bank and advising companies on raising finance and mergers and acquisitions.[4][5]

She was then appointed Chief Executive of UCL Hospitals Charitable Foundation. In 2006, she became Chief Executive of Fight for Sight, the UK's largest charity funding pioneering eye research.[6] Acton’s work at Fight for Sight oversaw the bringing together of two charities – Fight for Sight and the British Eye Research Foundation – to form one national charity focused on addressing sight loss. By the end of her time there, Fight for Sight had an £8 million research commitment to scientists and healthcare professionals at over 40 universities and hospitals.[7] While Chief Executive at Fight for Sight, Acton opened the Cambridge Eye Research Centre at Addenbrooke's Hospital alongside Dame Mary Archer.[8] From 2007 to 2014, Acton served as a Trustee of St John's, Smith Square.[9]

Acton was appointed Chief Executive of the Royal Society of Medicine in 2019.[10] As Chief Executive, Acton leads an organization that provides multidisciplinary and specialist education to 35,000 healthcare professionals around the world, is home to an academic library and the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, as well as hosting international events and conferences.[11][12] Acton's responsibilities also include managing the Royal Society of Medicine's London properties worth in excess of £100 million.[13] Acton is a board member of the Harley Street Business Improvement District.[14]

Acton (centre) at the Royal Society of Medicine with (left to right) Sir Simon Wessely, Prof Roger Kirby, Sir Jonathan Van-Tam and Sir Chris Whitty

In February 2025, it was announced that Acton had been elected as the next Principal of St Hugh's College, Oxford, succeeding Lady Elish Angiolini.[15]

Personal life

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Acton was married to Conservative politician Mark Field from 1994 until 2006, when the couple divorced following Field's extra-marital affair with his fellow Member of Parliament Liz Truss.[16][17]

References

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  1. ^ Bailey, Charlie (26 February 2025). "Royal Society of Medicine CEO Michele Acton elected St Hugh's Principal". Cherwell. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
  2. ^ Times, The (24 June 2024). "Birthdays today". www.thetimes.com. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
  3. ^ "Michele Acton to Become New Head of St Hugh's College | Trinity College Oxford". www.trinity.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
  4. ^ "Royal Society of Medicine appoints Michele Acton as new CEO". www.rsm.ac.uk. 20 February 2019. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
  5. ^ Acton, Michele (2 April 2025). "CEO - Royal Society of Medicine".
  6. ^ "Meet Michele Acton: The Society's new Chief Executive". www.rsm.ac.uk. 28 October 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  7. ^ Bailey, Charlie (26 February 2025). "Royal Society of Medicine CEO Michele Acton elected St Hugh's Principal". Cherwell. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
  8. ^ "Cambridge Eye Research Centre (CERC) Launch – Professor Rupert Bourne". 24 April 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  9. ^ "Michele Louise ACTON personal appointments - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  10. ^ "Who's Moving: Helpforce, Social Enterprise UK and more". www.civilsociety.co.uk. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
  11. ^ Moss, Amanda (26 February 2025). "St Hugh's College elects Michele Acton as next Principal". St Hugh's College. Retrieved 2 April 2025.
  12. ^ Jackson, Barry (2020). "Royal Society of Medicine". In Bryan, Charles S. (ed.). Sir William Osler: an encyclopedia. Novato, California: Norman Publishing. pp. 707–708. ISBN 978-0-930405-91-5. OCLC 1151926858.
  13. ^ Kirby, Roger (2024). "Royal Society of Medicine". Trends in Urology & Men's Health. 15 (5): 22–23. doi:10.1002/tre.981. ISSN 2044-3749.
  14. ^ "Meet Our Team". Harley Street BID. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
  15. ^ "RSM CEO Michele Acton to step down". www.rsm.ac.uk. 26 February 2025. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
  16. ^ Fuller, Phoebe (5 September 2022). "Liz Truss: new PM's life from Leeds roots to affair with fellow MP". Leeds Live. Archived from the original on 25 June 2025. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  17. ^ Gogarty, Conor (8 August 2022). "The Liz Truss affair allegations that nearly ended her career". Wales Online. Archived from the original on 25 June 2025. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
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