°×С½ãÂÛ̳

Sir Stephen Wall has been named the new Chair of °×С½ãÂÛ̳ Council.

A lay member of °×С½ãÂÛ̳ Council since 2005, he will take over from Lord Woolf on 1 April 2008.

Sir Stephen spent 35 years in HM Diplomatic Service, including postings as Private Secretary to the Foreign Secretary and the Prime Minister, and as Britain's Permanent Representative to the European Union. He is currently Vice-Chair of Business for New Europe, a trustee of the Thomson Foundation and a member of the Franco-British Council. He is Honorary President of the University Association for Contemporary European Studies.

The 20-member Council is the governing body of °×С½ãÂÛ̳. It has a mix of internal and external members, and meets regularly to review the strategic direction of the university. The office of Chair of Council is a pro bono position with important responsibilities for promoting the efficient and effective governance of °×С½ãÂÛ̳. The Chair works closely with the °×С½ãÂÛ̳ President & Provost and Council members, as well as other senior academic and administrative officers of °×С½ãÂÛ̳.

°×С½ãÂÛ̳ President & Provost Professor Malcolm Grant said: "I believe that the huge experience Sir Stephen brings to the role of Chair of °×С½ãÂÛ̳ Council will bring great benefit to our university. I look forward to working closely with him as we look to further develop °×С½ãÂÛ̳."

Sir Stephen said: "The number of news stories about °×С½ãÂÛ̳ as innovator and achiever is a measure of this university's dynamism. It is an exciting place to be involved in. It is also an institution with a real sense of responsibility to its staff and students. I feel very fortunate to have been chosen."