Former Boots CMO Pete Markey is to step into the top marketer role at Cancer Research UK, taking over from outgoing marketing director Philip Almond.

Pete Markey will join the charity in November, before officially assuming the role of executive director of marketing, fundraising and engagement in December. The position will see him lead Cancer Research’s strategy to grow the income needed to fund its work and advance its digital transformation.

Markey stepped down from Boots after four and a half years in June. During his time at the retail giant, he led widespread changes to make the loyalty proposition a core part of the strategy, alongside the launch in 2022 of new positioning ‘With You. For Life’. Markey was named Marketing Week’s Marketer of the Year in 2023 in recognition of his achievements in the role.

He is currently president of ISBA, a role he assumed last summer, and prior to joining Boots held marketing leadership roles at TSB, Aviva and the Post Office.

Boots CMO Pete Markey steps down

Announcing his appointment, Cancer Research UK praised Markey’s “exceptional experience” and ability to drive impact, adding that he is joining “at a significant time” as the charity’s marketing, fundraising and engagement teams “continue to drive growth, innovation and engagement”.

The announcement also praised outgoing marketing boss Philip Almond for his “outstanding leadership”. Almond announced plans for retirement back in July, stating he would step away from the charity by May 2026.

Almond’s time at Cancer Research UK saw him lead  a significant brand refresh in 2023, which changed the charity’s strapline from ‘Together we will beat cancer’ to ‘Together we are beating cancer’. This evolution was designed to reflect the progress that has already been made in fighting cancer, rather than focusing the charity’s work on a single, silver-bullet “cure”.

Posting on LinkedIn about Markey’s appointment, Almond said he “could not think of anyone better” to lead Cancer Research’s “next stage of transformation”.

For Markey’s part, he shared his excitement at joining the charity, as well as his personal motivation for taking on the role.

“I lost my mum, Rosemary, to cancer 25 years ago, and so this role is deeply personal for me. I want my next chapter to be about helping to beat cancer,” he wrote.