Speakers

Ben Lucas is the Managing Director for MSD in the UK and Ireland.

Ben is an experienced leader in the pharmaceutical industry and champion of collaborative working across the life sciences sector, with a focus on impact for patients and the NHS.

As Managing Director of MSD in the UK and Ireland, he leads a large, cross-divisional organization of colleagues to deliver on the company’s mission to save and improve lives, though innovative medicines and vaccines, in partnership with the healthcare system and wider life sciences ecosystem. Ben is an Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) Board member and member of UK Government’s Trade Advisory Group (TAG), offering policy insight on key opportunities for UK international leadership in life sciences.

Ben is responsible for overseeing MSD’s inward investment, including in new discovery research labs and a UK HQ in London. Aligned to this commitment, Ben is a member of the Camden Anchors group, shaping the ecosystem and how it delivers for local communities.

Ben returned to the UK as Managing Director in early 2022, after three years leading MSD’s business in The Netherlands where MSD has 4 manufacturing sites, a large Animal Health R&D base and Financial Hub. Here he experienced new ways of partnering a health system to innovate, and acquired learnings from working with the Dutch Government on industrial policy.

Prior to this European role, Ben led the MSD UK oncology business unit at a highly significant time for launching MSD’s immuno-oncology portfolio; pioneering the Early Access to Medicines (EAMS) programme with MHRA and driving positive dialogue with NHS England on innovative areas to support UK patient access.

Ben has a wealth of experience from his career, reflecting his leadership over a large and diverse portfolio of therapy areas and pipeline products, and senior marketing roles he has held previously, both at Roche and MSD.

Outside of work, Ben is married with 5 daughters.