Nick Petford
University of Northampton vice chancellor and chief executive Professor Nick Petford is to step down from his role in the sumer of next year.
Professor Petford, who has led the university since 2010, is leaving to pursue opportunities in the field of international education. Chief operating officer Terry Neville is also to retire at the end of the academic year.
“It has been an honour to have served as the vice chancellor of the University of Northampton for more than a decade,” said Mr Petford. “In that time, many thousands of our graduates have made their mark around the world.”
Professor Petford and Mr Neville headed the university’s relocation to a purpose-built facility within Northampton’s Enterprise Zone. The move has grown its links to the local economy and creatied a new commercial and leisure district for the town. The university also received Gold status in the government’s Teaching Excellence Framework.
“I arrived at Northampton in the knowledge that universities looked set to face unprecedented challenges and I am proud that we have risen to each challenge and overcome it, particularly in these most recent, difficult times,” said Mr Petford, who will assist in the appointment of his successor.
Mark Mulcahey, chair of the university’s board of governors, praised the work of Mr Petford and Mr Neville, saying they had “led the university to the vanguard of using higher education as a catalyst for social impact. That progressive thinking has become the hallmark of the University of Northampton and a worthy legacy for these remarkable colleagues.”
Mr Neville said: “It has always been my belief that through their teaching, research and community outreach, universities are the engine of productive change. My years of working at Northampton have seen that belief become reality and I am grateful to have played my part.”
