Scott Royal Appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Westat

The Westat Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Scott Royal, Ph.D., who has served as President since November 2017, is appointed President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) effective March 16, 2020, replacing CEO James E. Smith, Ph.D., who will continue to serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors.

“Scott has brought strong leadership, management, and business development acumen to our company,” said Dr. Smith. “He is well positioned to lead Westat as we continue to address our clients’ needs and apply our expertise to new opportunities in the years ahead.”

Dr. Royal holds a doctorate and master’s degree from the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University. His career spans 25+ years working in mission-driven, professional services firms specializing in health, social and economic policy, and education.

“I am honored to take on this new role and look forward to working closely with Westat’s Board of Directors, managers, and staff of our employee-owned company,” said Dr. Royal. “I have been impressed by the passion, precision, and innovation our employees bring to our work every day. It is a privilege to lead this dedicated team into what will be an exciting new chapter for Westat.”