The University has announced that the new Chancellor will be Professor Sir Malcolm Grant.
Grant comes to the University of York as the current Chairman of NHS England after also serving 10 years as President and Provost of UCL.
Previous roles also include Pro Vice Chancellor of Cambridge, chairman of the Russell Group, chairman of the Local Government Commission for England, and chairman of the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission.
He also shows a strong interest in global higher education with other current posts including being a member of the University Grants Committee of Hong Kong and a member of the International Advisory Council of the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, in addition to being on the International Council on Global Competitiveness of Russian Universities.
Sir Malcolm is the sixth Chancellor of the University of York over the course of its 51-year history.
He succeeds the chairman of the FA and former Director-General of the BBC, Greg Dyke, as formal head of the University, a post Dyke has held since 2004.
Duties as Chancellor include conferring degrees on behalf of the University and chairing the University’s Court.
They also act as an ambassador for the University both nationally and internationally.
Sir Malcolm said: “I am honoured to become Chancellor of this great university which has always represented a set of unimpeachable values. It has a passionate belief in social justice, freedom of speech, a respect for the individual and, above all, a commitment to the highest academic standards.”
“I look forward to helping the University to achieve the next phase of its development at an enormously challenging time for Higher Education globally. Following Greg Dyke’s inspirational leadership will not be easy, but I am determined to continue to build on the record of success of this remarkable institution.”
Vice Chancellor Koen Lamberts added: “We are extremely pleased that Sir Malcolm has agreed to become Chancellor. As a hugely influential figure in Higher Education and recognising his broader contribution to public life, Sir Malcolm will enrich the life of the University and represent us with distinction both in the UK and internationally. I very much look forward to the privilege of working with him.”
The Chair of University Council, Sir Chris O’Donnell paid tribute to the tenure of outgoing Chancellor Dyke, saying “he University made an extremely wise decision when they invited Greg to become Chancellor in 2004. He has brought a wealth of experience, energy, enthusiasm and, above all, humanity to this crucial role.”
“We are also grateful that Greg agreed to extend his second term of office for one year to smooth the arrival of the Vice-Chancellor in 2014. A number of events to mark Greg’s exceptional contribution to the University will be announced in the spring term.”
“Greg often speaks of his gratitude for the way his time at York as an undergraduate changed his life for the better. Now it is the University’s turn to be in his debt, for a decade of remarkable service as Chancellor. We shall be sad to lose him but hope that he maintains his close association with the University and continues to be one of our most passionate advocates.”