Professor Sir Graeme Davies, the Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Glasgow, is to become the next Vice-Chancellor of the University of London.

Sir Graeme was appointed this afternoon (Wednesday 3 July) by a unanimous decision of the Council of the University of London. He will take up the post when the current Vice-Chancellor, Professor Graham Zellick, completes his six-year term of office on 30 September 2003.

Following the decision, the Chairman of Council and Pro-Chancellor, Lord Woolf, said: "We are delighted that Sir Graeme Davies has accepted appointment as the next Vice-Chancellor of the University. He will bring to the University a wealth of experience of leadership in higher education acquired over many years. Following the reforms of recent years and the considerable achievements of the present Vice-Chancellor, Graham Zellick, we are confident that the University will flourish under Sir Graeme's imaginative guidance."

Professor Sir Graeme Davies said: " I consider it a great privilege to be appointed to lead the University of London and I look forward to working with the heads of the Colleges and Institutes to enhance further the contribution that the federation can make to regional and national policies for higher education. In that context it will be particularly valuable to inherit the very firm foundations laid down by Graham Zellick during his time as Vice-Chancellor. ".

Professor Graham Zellick said: "I am delighted that I shall be handing over my responsibilities for the University in a year's time to so distinguished a figure in Britain's higher education as Sir Graeme Davies. I have known him for many years, from his days as Vice-Chancellor of Liverpool and a CVCP colleague. As Chief Executive of the Funding Council, he displayed great sensitivity to institutions; and with his enormous experience and understanding of the role of heads of higher education institutions, he is admirably placed to lead our unique federation. I have no doubt the University will prosper under his guidance and I wish him every success".

Sir Graeme's appointment is part-time and runs for a period of four years from October 2003 when he completes his eight-year term of office in Glasgow.

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Background information

Professor Sir Graeme Davies is currently Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Glasgow, a position he has held since October 1995.

He was born and brought up in New Zealand and graduated BE, PhD from the University of Auckland. After holding academic posts at the Universities of Auckland and Cambridge, he became Professor of Metallurgy at Sheffield University in 1978. Between 1986-91, Professor Davies was Vice-Chancellor of the University of Liverpool. He was Chief Executive of the Universities Funding Council from 1991 and concurrently Chief Executive of the Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council from 1992. He became the first Chief Executive of the new Higher Education Funding Council for England in 1992.

Sir Graeme was appointed a Knight Bachelor in the 1996 New Year Honours List. He is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, a Freeman of the City of London, a Burgess Holder of the City of Glasgow, a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Ironmongers and an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand. He holds honorary degrees from Liverpool, Sheffield, Nottingham, Strathclyde, Manchester Metropolitan and Auckland Universities and is an Honorary Fellow of Trinity College of Music, London and of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow.

Professor Davies, who holds the ScD from the University of Cambridge, is the co-author of six books and author or co-author of more than 125 scientific and technical papers in learned journals and conference proceedings dealing with forming processes, welding, solidification and casting, and the mechanical properties of metals and materials.

As Vice-Chancellor of the University of London, Sir Graeme will continue with many of his outside commitments, which include:

* Chairman, Council for the Central Laboratory for the Research Councils

* Chairman, Universities Superannuation Scheme Ltd

* Board Member, Scottish Enterprise Glasgow

* Trustee, Glasgow Science Centre

* Trustee, Scottish Science Trust

* Chairman, Joint Procurement Policy and Strategy Group for the Funding Councils

First published: 3 July 2002