Girolami is the Sir Kirby Laing professor of civil engineering and Royal Academy of engineering research chair in data centric engineering (DCE) at the University of Cambridge.

His background spans computing science, statistical science, applied mathematics and engineering, and he previously spent a decade working at IBM. 

At the Turing, Girolami will be responsible for creating and delivering the institute’s scientific and innovation strategy and its approach to ethics and responsible innovation.

He will take up the post by the end of October 2021 and becomes part of the senior team, alongside chief commercial officer Christine Foster and chief operating officer Jonathan Atkins.

The appointment follows the launch of the government’s first national artificial intelligence (AI) strategy.

Adrian Smith, institute director and chief executive, the Turing, said: “This is a very positive appointment for the Turing, one that I feel strongly demonstrates the importance of the Turing as an integral and central part of the UK’s data science and AI environment. Mark will be an excellent advocate and ambassador for the Institute and the UK as he carries on his good work promoting the benefits of data science and AI for all.”