The University of Glasgow has just announced the appointment of Mr David Newall as Secretary of Court, the top administrative post in the University.

Announcing the appointment, the Principal of the University, Sir Muir Russell, said: 'David Newall is a person of great ability with a high reputation within the sector. We have already worked closely with him during his time at Strathclyde University and are looking forward to welcoming him as part of the Glasgow team.'

Mr Newall said: "I have had the pleasure of working with many colleagues at Glasgow in recent years. It is a first-class university and I am delighted to be joining it."

Mr Newall, a distinguished graduate of Oxford, has worked in local government and the HE sector, and is currently Deputy Secretary at the University of Strathclyde.

He succeeds Mr Dugald Mackie, Secretary of Court since 1996, who recently left to take up the post of Registrar and Secretary of the newly merged University of Manchester.

Media Relations Office (media@gla.ac.uk)

The post of Secretary of Court is the highest administrative position within the University. The Court is the governing body of the University, and is sometimes compared to the Board of Directors of a company. Its powers have been defined over a number of years, commencing in 1858 when the Court was first established, and are set out in a series of Acts of Parliament, the Universities (Scotland) Acts 1858-1966, and subsidiary regulations and ordinances.

The Court has ultimate responsibility for the deployment of resources in the University and for the strategic plans of the institution. It also has a monitoring role in relation to the overall performance of the University, and it holds the Principal accountable for the effective and efficient management of the University. It is responsible for the wellbeing of staff. With the Senate, it is responsible for the wellbeing of students and for the reputation of the University. The Court has 25 members and meets in full session seven or eight times a year.

First published: 21 May 2004