Womersley takes reins at ESS

John Womersley has stepped into his role as the director-general of the European Spallation Source.

Womersley began his appointment on 28 October, replacing outgoing director-general Jim Yeck. He resigned his post as chief executive at the Science and Technology Facilities Council in the UK earlier this year, and has previously also worked as the chairman of the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures.

Womersley has been shadowing Yeck since his appointment was announced in May to make the transition easier, the ESS said in a statement. “John is already in charge,” said Yeck at a staff meeting on 28 October. “You can feel he has jumped in.”