Lennie Derde Appointed New Ecraid Chief Executive Officer
Ecraid is pleased to announce the appointment of Lennie Derde as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 January 2026. She will succeed Ecraid’s co-founder Prof. Marc Bonten.
Lennie’s role as CEO will be instrumental in strengthening Ecraid’s position as Europe’s primary platform for clinical research on infectious diseases. She represents a new generation of leadership, bringing the agility and modern, data-driven perspective critical for navigating the evolving infectious diseases landscape.
Continuous impact
With her long-standing experience in clinical research in infectious diseases, Lennie brings a wealth of knowledge and simultaneously a fresh perspective to Ecraid. She steps into the role with energy, ambition, and a clear vision for Ecraid’s future; eager to build on the organisation’s strong foundation and to further elevate its impact across Europe and beyond.
Leading research initiatives
Prior to her appointment as CEO, Lennie was a member of the Ecraid Coordinating Committee. She co-leads the “Epidemiology of Sepsis and Inflammation” research group at the UMC Utrecht, is the European principal investigator and immediate past global chair of REMAP-CAP and has been involved in EU-funded projects such as ECRAID-Base. Lennie heads the ZonMw-funded IMPRINT consortium and is a member of the Steering Committee for the Surviving Sepsis Campaign and the ISAB of Sepsis Canada. She chairs the Dutch Research Collaboration in Critical care in the Netherlands (RCCNet).
While focusing on her CEO duties, her long-standing relationship with UMC Utrecht’s academic and research environment will continue, ensuring Ecraid retains a vital connection to frontline insights and expertise.
"I am honoured to carry forward the remarkable work achieved in Ecraid under Marc’s supervision, and lead Ecraid through a new phase of growth by driving an even deeper focus on its mission of advancing clinical research in infectious diseases," said Lennie.
“Lennie is the right fit to push Ecraid to new heights and transform it into a Europe-leading organisation that fosters innovation in clinical research. She has a deep knowledge of Ecraid’s entire pipeline, and I am certain she will continue to pave the way to leaving a strong footprint in the field,” said Marc.
Under Lennie’s leadership, Ecraid remains committed to delivering high-impact clinical research, expanding collaborative research, and improving outcomes for patients and public health. Her appointment marks an exciting milestone, positioning Ecraid to build upon its foundation of operational rigour to scale its expertise and reach.