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The new COO role has responsibility for key professional services teams including Human Resources, Finance and Business Affairs, Legal Services, Estates and Information Services Division.

As part of her new remit, Fiona will take over as co-sponsor of the Transforming Our Professional Services (TOPS) programme along with Professor Anthony Smith. This includes the Professional Services Hub initiative, which was announced in June 2018.

Fiona joined °×С½ãÂÛ̳ in April 2017 as Executive Director of Human Resources and a member of °×С½ãÂÛ̳'s Senior Management Team.

In this role, she has successfully built a diverse and talented leadership team that will deliver our new and ambitious HR strategy.

Fiona Ryland commented: "I'm passionate about providing meaningful careers for staff with fair and transparent development and promotion opportunities. As COO, I have the fantastic opportunity to lead very talented and dedicated teams and I very much look forward to supporting them to deliver a truly excellent service to °×С½ãÂÛ̳."

°×С½ãÂÛ̳ President & Provost, Professor Michael Arthur, said: "I'm delighted to welcome Fiona as °×С½ãÂÛ̳'s first COO. She has demonstrated outstanding leadership and strategic vision as Executive Director of Human Resources, and with Rex Knight's departure as Vice-Provost (Operations) in December, she will be pivotal in shaping the future of Professional Services at °×С½ãÂÛ̳.

"As COO, Fiona will draw on her extensive expertise and ambition to ensure Professional Services is recognised and valued for its excellent delivery in supporting °×С½ãÂÛ̳'s academic mission and the °×С½ãÂÛ̳ 2034 strategy, and I know the °×С½ãÂÛ̳ community will support her in achieving this."

Prior to joining °×С½ãÂÛ̳, Fiona looked after the HR, Communications, Corporate Responsibility and Business Excellence teams for Compass Group UK & Ireland, a community of 60,000 people and the UK's leading provider of catering and support services.

Fiona also has extensive experience of HR management at retailers including Comet, Dixons and Asda, where she established new apprenticeship and graduate programmes to benefit young people and early career colleagues.ÌýÌý

Once Fiona starts as COO, her current role will be filled by an interim until a permanent a successor is appointed.

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· Fiona Ryland