Kathryn Pretzel-Shiels has been appointed as CEO of Bowel Research UK. Having led the charity as Interim CEO since October 2025, she now takes on the role on a permanent basis.
She has been closely involved with the charity since 2016, initially as a Trustee and later as Chair of the Fundraising, Marketing and Communications Committee, before becoming Interim CEO.
Kathryn brings more than 30 years’ experience in international business and marketing leadership. She spent 28 years at American Express, working across three continents, and later served as Marketing Director at PAUL, where she led brand, digital transformation and customer engagement. She has also held a number of board and advisory roles across the charity and not-for-profit sector.
Kathryn Pretzel-Shiels, Chief Executive Officer of Bowel Research UK, said:
“It is a privilege to take on the role of CEO on a permanent basis, having worked closely with the charity for many years and more recently as Interim CEO. I look forward to working with the team, supporters, researchers and wider community to continue driving this forward and to create an organisation that can turn collaboration into real progress”
Asha Senapati, Chair of Bowel Research UK, said: “Kathryn has already demonstrated strong and effective leadership previously as a Trustee and then during her time as Interim CEO. Her combination of commercial expertise, governance experience and personal commitment to the cause makes her exceptionally well placed to lead Bowel Research UK into its next phase.”
In the UK, around three-quarters of a million people live with serious bowel conditions, and more than 17,400 people die from bowel cancer every year, making it the second deadliest cancer. Despite this, bowel cancer and other bowel diseases remain significantly underfunded. These conditions can affect anybody, with one in 17 men and one in 20 women expected to develop bowel cancer during their lifetime.