He will be succeeded by Dr Karl Marlowe, the Trust’s newly appointed Chief Medical Officer, who will oversee the appointment of a new substantive Trust’s Director of R&D in the coming year. ​​​​​​​

Professor Geddes will also end his role as University of Oxford’s Head of the Department of Psychiatry in September, having been appointed as WA Handley Professor of Psychiatry.

He will remain in post as the Director of the NIHR Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre.

Professor Geddes has led research at the Trust through enormous change and progression, having secured the first NIHR Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre in 2016, cementing the strong partnership between Oxford Health and the University of Oxford.

Professor Gavin Screaton, Head of the Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, said:

“I would like to take this opportunity to share the Medical Sciences Board’s thanks for John’s exceptional leadership of the Department of Psychiatry over many years.”

Professor Geddes will be succeeded as Head of Department by Professor Belinda Lennox whose appointment to the post was announced this week. Professor Lennox was appointed as the first female Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Oxford in 2019 and is an Honorary Consultant Psychiatrist in the Early Intervention in Psychosis service for Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust.

Professor John Geddes said:

“It has been a huge honour to lead the department over the last decade. I have been fortunate to work with an incredible team of professionals. I am truly delighted to hand over the reins to Belinda. She is a great leader and clinical academic. I know that she will drive the department’s outstanding research to ever greater heights and impact, delivering on our aim of transforming the lives of patients through advances in scientific knowledge.”

Professor Lennox said:

“It is an enormous privilege and honour to have been appointed as Head of Department of Psychiatry… I believe the department has exciting times ahead with plans for the redevelopment of the Warneford Hospital site, which will enable even closer working with our University and NHS partners, with patients and carers at the centre of everything we do.”

Chief Medical Officer Dr Karl Marlowe said:

“Professor Geddes has accomplished a huge amount during his time leading research at Oxford Health.  He has brought national and international research experts to Oxford, and grown the department’s research income from around £1m to over £12m. We are delighted that John will stay connected with the Trust as BRC Director when he takes up his appointment as WA Handley Professor of Psychiatry.”