Milton Keynes, England, United Kingdom, September 2025 — Sam Willett has been appointed as Chief Operating Officer at UK Biocentre, where he will oversee operational functions across one of the UK’s largest sample management and biobanking infrastructures. In this role, he will lead logistics, lab processing, storage, and facilities, while driving efficiency, compliance, and organisational growth to support national research priorities, including Our Future Health.
Sam has been with UK Biocentre for over four years, steadily advancing through leadership roles. Most recently, he served as Director of Operations, where he spearheaded change management initiatives, strengthened governance and compliance practices, and led cross-functional teams to achieve operational excellence.
Before that, as Head of Operations, Head of Logistics, Sample Inventory and Storage Manager, and Supply and Demand Planning Manager, he played a critical role in shaping operational strategy, scaling infrastructure, and optimising supply chain processes that underpin the organisation’s long-term resilience.
Earlier in his career, Sam built a strong foundation during a distinguished 24-year tenure at Lloyds Banking Group, where he rose through the ranks from Customer Service Assistant to Senior Bank Manager. In this role, he led large teams across multiple branches, developing expertise in leadership, people management, and operational efficiency that he later transitioned into the life sciences sector.
About UK Biocentre
UK Biocentre, established in 2011 by UK Biobank, is a leading not-for-profit organisation dedicated to sample management, high-capacity bioprocessing, and storage solutions. Supporting large-scale research studies, the organisation partners with academic, pharmaceutical, and biotech communities to deliver innovative technologies that enable life-changing research.
With a strong heritage in advancing science, UK Biocentre provides services spanning sample processing and analysis, genomics, and long-term cold storage. Guided by its quality certifications and commitment to innovation, UK Biocentre plays a critical role in enabling cutting-edge research that impacts lives globally.
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