University of Birmingham Vice-Chancellor announces retirement
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Birmingham, Professor Sir David Eastwood, has announced his intention to retire at the end of the calendar year.
An international search for a new Vice-Chancellor will commence immediately. Led by the Chair of Council, which is the University’s governing body, the intention is that an appointment will be made in good time to enable a smooth transition.
One of the longest-serving Vice-Chancellors in the Russell Group, Professor Sir David Eastwood joined the University of Birmingham in 2009, having previously served as Chief Executive of the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), a post he held from September 2006. Former posts also include Vice-Chancellor of the University of East Anglia and Chief Executive of the Arts and Humanities Research Board. While at Birmingham he has also held senior roles on a number of sector and regional groups including as Chair of the Russell Group, Universitas 21, Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS), and UCAS.
Deeply proud of what we have achieved
In a statement to staff, announcing his retirement, Professor Sir David Eastwood said: “Leading this great university has been the highlight of my career and I am deeply proud of what we have achieved as a University community over the last 12 years. I am confident that, together, we have taken the University to a better place - better for our students and for our research - and that we have and are making an enduring difference to our city, our region, and indeed in the wider world. Much of this is down to the quality of partnerships and working relationships that I have been privileged to enjoy and for which I am deeply grateful.”
Professor Sir David Eastwood added that his retirement would provide an opportunity to pursue other opportunities and interests, find new ways to contribute to the development of the world-class higher education sector that this country enjoys and to spend more and quality time with his family and grandchildren.
Commenting on the Vice-Chancellor’s retirement, Mervyn Walker, Chair of University Council said: “David is a truly exceptional Vice-Chancellor and under his leadership the University has been transformed into a leading UK and global institution. We have made huge progress in research and teaching, and we have made major investments in our future, enabled by sound financial stewardship. We have benefited not only from David’s inspirational leadership within the University, but also from his stature, experience and influence in the Higher Education sector, and I am delighted that we will continue to benefit from David’s leadership for the whole of this year.”