CERN Director-General Mark Thomson shares a special message for the Alumni Network

Published on March 1, 2026

As of January 2026, CERN has a new leadership team.

British experimental particle physicist Mark Thomson is CERN’s Director-General for the 2026–2030 mandate. In a recent video address to the CERN Alumni community, he reflects on where particle physics stands today, outlines his priorities for the next five years, and shares his perspective on the main challenges ahead. 

He also describes CERN Alumni as an essential and lasting part of the Organization’s community. As they move into roles across academia, industry, policy, education and entrepreneurship, they carry with them not only world-class technical expertise but also the collaborative spirit and values that define CERN. In this sense, alumni are CERN’s strongest ambassadors.