In this episode of Boardroom Brief, Dr Lara Shemtob speaks with Dr David Roomes, Chief Medical Officer at Bristol Myers Squibb, about what work and health really mean inside global organisations.
From aerospace engineering to mining to biopharma, David shares insights from a remarkable career spanning multiple industries and continents — and explains how occupational health can create real organisational value beyond traditional ROI arguments. Together they explore:
- How leaders define workforce health and wellbeing
- The evolving role of occupational health in global business
- The link between organisational culture, leadership and employee health
- The growing influence of AI in workplace health services
- Why prevention, evidence, and credibility matter when speaking to boards
- What business leaders can do tomorrow to make work healthier and more productive
Key Topics Covered:
• Career journey across GSK, Rio Tinto, Rolls-Royce, and Bristol Myers Squibb
• Occupational health as a strategic business function
• Employer value proposition and workforce expectations
• Measuring the real cost of musculoskeletal and mental health conditions
• Evidence-based approaches to wellbeing programmes
• US vs UK healthcare and employer responsibility
• AI in occupational health practice
• Leadership as the most powerful driver of healthy workplace culture
Key Quote: “If you can create a culture of health and wellbeing at your organisation, that is probably the most powerful lever you have.”
About the Guest:
Dr David Roomes is Chief Medical Officer at Bristol Myers Squibb, where he leads global workforce health strategy within a cutting-edge biopharmaceutical organisation focused on oncology and cell therapy.
He brings over 25 years of international experience in occupational medicine across pharmaceuticals, heavy industry, mining, aerospace, defence, and nuclear engineering. David began his career in the pharmaceutical sector at GlaxoSmithKline, joining shortly after the merger of SmithKline Beecham and Wellcome.
Over a decade at GSK, he completed his occupational medicine training, served as a Medical Director, and gained extensive experience in both R&D and global manufacturing environments. In 2010, David relocated to Montreal to join Rio Tinto following its acquisition of Alcan, where he led the occupational health function within the aluminium business. This role gave him broad international exposure and experience navigating workforce health across diverse cultural and operational settings.
In 2012, he was appointed Chief Medical Officer at Rolls-Royce PLC (aerospace, defence, and nuclear engineering). During his tenure, he later took on additional responsibility for Environmental Health & Safety and sustainability, working at the intersection of health, safety, engineering, and organisational leadership in high-risk industrial environments.
Three years ago, David returned to the life sciences sector, joining Bristol Myers Squibb as Chief Medical Officer. In this role, he focuses on linking employee health strategy to organisational performance, shaping benefits design, navigating complex healthcare systems in the US, and exploring the application of artificial intelligence in occupational health practice.
Across every industry he has served, David is recognised for advancing evidence-based workforce health strategies, building leadership accountability for wellbeing, and positioning occupational health as a driver of business value and organisational resilience.
The SOM podcast is sponsored by Orchid Live - specialist occupational health software used by a number of SOM members to run every aspect of their occupational health operations. They hold healthcare records for over 1 million UK workers and work with both in-house OH teams and OH providers. You can find out more at
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