New Deputy Vice-Chancellor for the University

Friday, 27 April 2018

From 1 August 2018, Professor Robert Van de Noort will become the University's Deputy Vice-Chancellor for the next two years (with the possibility of renewal for a further two years).

Robert will combine this role with his current responsibilities as Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Academic Planning and Resource.

Professor Steve Mithen will have completed his term of office as Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Pro-Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation on 31 July 2018. By that point, Steve will have completed eight years as a member of the University Executive Board, first as Pro-Vice-Chancellor International before taking up his current responsibilities in 2014.

Sir David Bell, the University's Vice-Chancellor, commented: "I would like to pay tribute to Steve Mithen for his outstanding service as a member of the University Executive Board over the past eight years. He has brought energy, commitment and focus to his different roles. I would also like to thank Steve publicly for his personal support to me as Vice-Chancellor.

"During Steve's time as PVC Research and Innovation and, prior to that, PVC International, we have made significant progress as a university. Steve's work on the international front laid the foundation for the substantial growth in international student numbers that we have seen in recent years. He also helped to raise Reading's profile in many new markets.

"As PVC Research and Innovation, Steve built on a positive outcome in REF 2014 and developed the 2020 Research Plan. Through it, we have established the infrastructure, leadership and support necessary to enhance our research standing.

"In Robert Van de Noort, we have an excellent new Deputy Vice-Chancellor. Since joining the University in 2014, Robert has been a great addition to our senior team. He has brought new thinking to our work, not least in introducing the sustainable planning system and overseeing the capital development programme. He is very well-positioned to make a wider contribution as he begins in the post as Deputy Vice-Chancellor."

Also joining the University Executive Board on 1 August 2018 will be Professor Parveen Yaqoob and Professor Dominik Zaum who will be taking up a job-share post as the new Pro-Vice-Chancellors for Research and Innovation. Arrangements for selecting Parveen's successor as Head of the School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy and Dominik's successor as Research Dean for Prosperity and Resilience are already underway.