Our Vice-Chancellor announces his retirement

The President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Southampton, Professor Sir Christopher Snowden, recently announced his decision to retire in spring 2019.

Sir Christopher joined the University in October 2015. He is a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Surrey and a former President of Universities UK (UUK), and has held international leadership roles in the private sector, including as a plc Chief Executive. A Fellow of the Royal Society and Royal Academy of Engineering, he is a former member of the Prime Minister’s Council for Science and Technology, and was knighted in the 2012 New Year’s Honours in recognition of his contributions to engineering and higher education.

Philip Greenish, Chair of Council, said:

“Sir Christopher joined us to enhance Southampton’s reputation as one of the world’s leading universities, and to prepare the University for a rapidly changing higher education environment. His transformation strategy and his global ambitions for our University are already delivering successes, with the University now streamlined into a new five-faculty structure, finance secured to enable major investment in a better student and staff experience, a return to the Global Top 100 this year with significant improvement in UK league tables, the award of a Silver in the Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework (TEF), and an increased overall satisfaction score in this year’s National Student Survey (NSS).

“We are deeply grateful to him for his tremendous contribution to and passion for Southampton, and for his relentless drive to create the highest quality education experience for our students, as well as encouraging groundbreaking research with a truly global impact. His achievements over recent years are all the more impressive in the light of the serious injuries he suffered in an accident shortly before he joined us and which he has continued to address with great fortitude.

“Our strategy and ambitions are clear, and we will ensure a smooth transition to his successor next year, who will continue our exciting transformation journey.”

In a message to our community, Professor Sir Christopher Snowden said:

I have been privileged and am very proud to have served Southampton as Vice-Chancellor. It is an extraordinary institution, whose public impact globally, nationally and regionally increases every year, and whose staff, students and alumni continue to inspire me daily.

“I will of course do everything possible in my remaining time at Southampton to ensure my successor has the strongest possible platform on which to drive forward the delivery of our strategy, and ensure the continuing success of this exceptional institution.”

The formal appointment process for a successor as Vice-Chancellor is underway. If you would like to contribute your thoughts about: the background and experience needed in a new Vice-Chancellor; and the attributes (values, behaviours, abilities) you believe they will need to successfully deliver our University strategy, then please send an email to VCselection@soton.ac.uk by Tuesday 13 November 2018.