Kumsal Bayazit

As Chief Executive Officer, Kumsal Bayazit is a strong advocate of research and innovation, leading Elsevier’s 9,500 people in their mission to help researchers and healthcare professionals advance science and improve health outcomes for the benefit of society.

Kumsal joined Elsevier as CEO in February 2019 from Elsevier’s parent company, RELX(opens in new tab/window), an R&D-driven FTSE 20 company, a global provider of information-based analytics, data services and decision tools. Since 2004, Kumsal held multiple management positions in Exhibitions, Legal and Risk divisions, including as Chief Strategy Officer of RELX. Until 2023, Kumsal also served as Chair of the RELX Technology Forum, responsible for technology, risk management and cyber security strategy across the Group, and oversaw the coordination of 9,000 technologists and data scientists. Under her leadership, Elsevier is applying artificial intelligence technologies such as generative AI to extensive, high-quality content and datasets to deliver innovative solutions for the research and healthcare communities.

Prior to joining RELX, Kumsal spent several years at Bain & Company in their New York, Los Angeles, Johannesburg and Sydney offices. She earned an MBA from Harvard Business School and is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, where she received a bachelor’s degree in Economics with honors. She also serves as a non-executive director of Preqin, a global leader in alternative assets data, tools and insights.