Sir Alan Langlands appointed Chief Executive of HEFCE

20 November 2008

Sir Alan Langlands, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Dundee, has been appointed Chief Executive of the Higher Education Funding Council for England. He takes up the post on 1 April 2009, succeeding Professor David Eastwood. Throughout his time at Dundee, Sir Alan has shown an absolute commitment to excellence in education, research and knowledge transfer, and the university has made an enormous contribution to the economic and social development of the city and the wider community in Scotland.

Before taking up his current position, Sir Alan was Chief Executive of the National Health Service in England from 1994 to 2000. He has an international reputation in the development of healthcare policy and as a strategic manager of health services. He received a knighthood in the Queen's Birthday Honours list in 1998 for his services to the NHS and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

Currently Sir Alan is also Chair of UK Biobank Ltd, a joint venture company set up by the Wellcome Trust and the Medical Research Council to oversee a major genetic epidemiology study; he is also a non-executive director of the Office for the Strategic Coordination of Health Research and the UK Statistics Authority.

Commenting on his appointment Sir Alan said:

'I am very pleased to take up the post of Chief Executive of HEFCE, which has a vital role in the strategic development of higher education. I will relish the opportunity of working with universities and colleges, Government and other partners to ensure that higher learning and research continues to have a positive impact on the economy and society.

'The Council's aims of enhancing excellence in education and research while widening participation and knowledge transfer have never been more important, and I look forward to building on HEFCE's many successes.'

The Chair of HEFCE, Tim Melville-Ross said:

'We are delighted that Sir Alan has agreed to take on this role. David Eastwood set a very high standard as Chief Executive. Sir Alan, as a strategic leader with immense experience of developing public policy, has all the qualities necessary to take the Council forward.

'He has an impressive track record of achievement and trust acknowledged at the highest levels of Government and by peers in the public sector, higher education and the private sector. I very much look forward to working with him, and have every confidence that he will lead the Council with distinction during a very challenging period for higher education.'

John Denham, Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, said:

'I am delighted that Alan Langlands is to become the next Chief Executive of HEFCE. He will bring very relevant experience of both higher education and the public services. I know he will be a fine leader of HEFCE for the coming period which will be of great importance and challenge for the future of our country's higher education. I look forward very much to working with him.'

Other biographical information

Sir Alan is a science graduate of the University of Glasgow and was awarded an honorary degree by the university in October 2001. He has also been awarded honorary fellowships by the Royal College of Physicians, the Royal College of General Practitioners, the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons (Glasgow), the Faculty of Public Health Medicine, the Institute of Actuaries and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance.

He is married with two adult children.

Notes

1. The Higher Education Funding Council for England is responsible for distributing £7.5 billion in public funding in 2008-09 to support learning and teaching, research and related activities in English universities and colleges.

2. Sir Alan Langlands will take over as Chief Executive from Professor David Eastwood on 1 April 2009. Professor Eastwood will take up the post of Vice-Chancellor of the University of Birmingham.

Page last updated 9 February 2012