Professor Geoffrey Crossick to take up post in September 2010
2 December 2009
Professor Geoffrey Crossick 
, currently Warden of Goldsmiths, University of London, has been appointed to take over from Sir Graeme Davies in September 2010 as the 50th Vice-Chancellor of the University of London.
The appointment, approved on 1 December 2009 by the Board of Trustees, the University of London’s governing body, brings to an end a rigorous, year-long international search that produced a distinguished field of candidates.
The Vice-Chancellor is the principal officer of the University and is responsible to the Board of Trustees for the organisation and conduct of the business of the University. As with the current Vice-Chancellor, Professor Crossick’s appointment is on a part-time basis and for an initial period of five years.
Dame Jenny Abramsky, Chair of the Board of Trustees, who oversaw the search, said: ‘I am delighted that our comprehensive deliberations have enabled us to secure a new Vice-Chancellor with such distinguished qualifications and outstanding personal qualities. His appointment comes at an important time, as the University continues to evolve and sets about turning its vision for the future into a reality.’
Professor Crossick said: ‘This is a marvellous time to become Vice-Chancellor of the University of London and I feel honoured to have been asked to take on the post.
‘Under the leadership of Sir Graeme Davies, the University has emerged as a confident federation of 19 world-class Colleges together with a number of prestigious central academic bodies and activities. I greatly look forward to the challenges of helping make the University even stronger in changing times for higher education.’
Professor Crossick, who has been Warden of Goldsmiths since 2005, is a historian specialising in the social and urban history of Europe in the 19th and early 20th centuries about which he has published extensively.
His academic career includes periods at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he is an Honorary Fellow, the University of Hull and the University of Essex, where he served in a succession of senior management positions as Deans of School, before spending five years as Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic Development).
Before joining Goldsmiths, University of London he was Chief Executive of the Arts and Humanities Research Board, leading it through to its establishment within the mainstream of research funding as a full arts and humanities research council.
Sir Graeme Davies, who is stepping down from the post after seven years, added: ‘I have found my time as Vice-Chancellor extremely rewarding and I wish Professor Crossick every success in the role. With his management and leadership skills he is ideally placed to build on the sound foundations that have been put in place under our new governance arrangements. Furthermore, I am delighted to hand over to him a robust, vibrant institution with a dedicated staff fully engaged in building its future as a federal University that is fit for purpose.’
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For further information contact:
Andy Williamson
Head of Communications
University of London
Tel: +44 (0)20 7862 8020; Email: andy.williamson@london.ac.uk 
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