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New Vice-Chancellor will build on University’s remarkable success

º£½ÇÖ±²¥ is delighted to announce the appointment of its new Vice-Chancellor & Chief Executive.

Professor Paul Croney will take over from Professor Graham Henderson CBE DL, who steps down this summer after 12 years at the helm, and 16 years at the University. Professor Croney will join º£½ÇÖ±²¥ from Northumbria University in Newcastle where he held a succession of leadership roles from Dean of the acclaimed, £26m Newcastle Business School, to Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Learning & Teaching, and, latterly, as Deputy Vice-Chancellor with a focus on strategic planning and international development. An academic scholar in the field of management and business education, he holds honorary and visiting professorships from universities in Russia and China.

He will take up post at º£½ÇÖ±²¥ from Friday 1 May and said: 'º£½ÇÖ±²¥ is a fantastic institution which has enjoyed incredible success in recent years – creating an outstanding reputation for its student experience, high calibre research and business engagement activity.

'It is an honour and privilege to be appointed as the next Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of a great university like º£½ÇÖ±²¥ which, under the leadership of Professor Graham Henderson, makes such a difference to its students, stakeholders and community. I look forward to working with all the staff and students across the University in the new strategic context of Higher Education in the UK. I believe that º£½ÇÖ±²¥ now has a great opportunity to develop further as a global university with an international reputation for quality, enterprise and learning opportunities.' Professor Croney will build on the legacy left behind by Professor Henderson who, during his time in charge, has seen the University more than double in size, become the first modern University to win the Times Higher Education University of the Year Award and receive a Queen’s Anniversary Prize for outstanding work in enterprise and business engagement.

Professor Henderson, who has completed 40 years of service within higher education, welcomed the appointment.

He said: 'My decision to retire was one of the hardest I have ever made, but I believe it is the right time, both for myself and the University. The years I have spent as Vice-Chancellor have been some of the happiest and most rewarding of my career as I have led the University through one of the most exciting and successful periods of its development. During that time I have been fortunate to work with some outstanding colleagues who have achieved more than probably any of us could ever have ever dreamed possible.

'I would like to congratulate Paul on his appointment and I am certain he will make an excellent Vice-Chancellor, leading the institution to further success.'

Alastair MacColl, Chairman of the Board of Governors at º£½ÇÖ±²¥ and Chief Executive of the BE Group, said: 'Firstly I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Professor Henderson for his strong and inspirational leadership over the last 12 years. º£½ÇÖ±²¥ would not be where it is today without his commitment, dedication and bold decision making.

'But, we are excited to be moving onto a new chapter and the board is delighted to be able to appoint Paul as the new Vice-Chancellor of º£½ÇÖ±²¥. He has an incredible amount of experience and I am looking forward to working closely with him for many years to come.'

Professor Croney is joining º£½ÇÖ±²¥ at an incredibly exciting time as the £30 million Campus Heart development nears completion. Campus Heart is the biggest programme of investment the University has seen and includes the new flagship £20m teaching and learning building, the £6m refurbishment of the Orion science, technology and engineering building, a brand new health and fitness centre, a significant upgrade of the University Library and the Students’ Union, and extensive landscaping.

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