We are delighted to announce that Chris Martin is joining MQ as an interim CEO.
He will work with the Charity’s dynamic team to drive more impactful research and funding partnerships and build on their strong track record of success established over the last 13 years.
Chris brings a wealth of charity and mental health sector experience to MQ, having previously led The Mix, a digital mental health charity for young people, which he merged with Mental Health Innovations in 2024 to create the UK’s largest early intervention service for mental health underpinned by data insight and digital outreach.
Chris is the Chair of BEAT, the national eating disorders charity, and also serves as a trustee of the Mental Health Foundation. In 2017, he worked with the Royal Household and seven other national charities to fundamentally challenge stigma around the nation’s mental health through the ground-breaking ‘Heads Together’ campaign.
“It is an incredible privilege to be joining MQ during such an exciting period” says Chris.
“The opportunity for MQ has for making a global impact on mental health through innovative research is more needed than ever. I am looking forward to working with our talented and ambitious team to rise to this challenge.”
Chris’s appointment follows the departure of Andy Ratcliffe who is leaving MQ to pursue other interests. His appointment coincides with a particularly exciting time for MQ as the charity is currently supporting 39 active research projects, including 27 grants and 12 research partnerships across nine countries. You can read more in MQ’s most recent Annual Report.
MQ’s Chair Dr Shahzad Malik said “The board remains clear that MQ is exceptionally placed to meet a fundamental gap in mental health research needs. We are committed to build further momentum for greater mental health research impact going forward, both immediately under Chris’ experienced interim leadership, and from the appointment of MQ’s long term successor CEO.”
