The Charity 100 Index number two is set for a new top seed with the announcement that former chief executive of plant technology firm Syngenta, Michael Pragnell, is to succeed David Newbigging as chairman of Cancer Research UK.

Pragnell (pictured), who is expected to take up the position in November this year, was the founder and chief executive of Syngenta AG, a world-leading company in crop protection and plant bioscience which now employs more than 25,000 people in 90 countries. Prior to this he was CEO of AstraZeneca’s crop protection business.

Cancer Research UK also announces the appointment of Professor Anton Berns as a trustee to the charity. Berns is director of research at the Netherlands Cancer Institute and professor of experimental genetics of inherited diseases at the University of Amsterdam.

“We’re delighted to welcome Michael Pragnell and Professor Berns to our council,” said Newbigging.

“Michael joins our council after an outstandingly successful career as chief executive of Syngenta, prior to which he was with AstraZeneca and before that Courtaulds. In addition, he has considerable international experience having worked in the US and Continental Europe as well as in the UK.

“Anton Berns is well known to us and has served as a non-trustee member of our Council Research Strategy Committee which oversees the research strategy of the charity. He has also served on a number of committees associated with us and we are fortunate to have such an eminent internationally-acclaimed scientist on our council.”