Dr Peace has a strong background in international technology and has held research leadership roles in industry. This includes roles at Unilever and most recently as Chief Research and Development and Quality Officer at Nomad Foods.
She has led innovation programmes across many different contexts and has a background in polymer chemistry.
The current Innovate UK CEO, Indro Mukerjee, steps down at the end of September this year after three-and-a-half years in the role.
UK Research and Innovation Chief Executive Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser said:
Indro has been a transformational leader of Innovate UK. His passion and commitment to the UK’s innovators has been unwavering. I wish him every future success.
Dame Ottoline added:
Stella has proven herself an accomplished leader at Innovate UK. I am deeply grateful to her for taking the helm as Interim Executive Chair and I am looking forward to working with her in her new role.
Top image: Credit: Dr Stella Peace. David Lake Photography Ltd