A cash-strapped university has appointed its next boss after the incumbent slashed hundreds of jobs before announcing his retirement.
Professor Claire Ozanne will be the next vice-chancellor and principal of Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU), taking over from Professor Rama Thirunamachandran.
The 62-year-old insect ecologist, who currently holds the same leadership role at Liverpool Hope University, will begin in April, with her predecessor set to depart in January.
The change comes as the first batch of layoffs comes to an end, as bosses hope to plug a £20 million black hole.
It is understood 148 staff members agreed to terminate their contracts, leaving the university between the start of February and the end of July.
The first round of redundancies is estimated to save the institution about £7m in the next financial year towards its £20m goal.
It is estimated the wider cost-cutting scheme will put some 400 roles at risk – 26% of the institution’s 1,500-strong workforce.
The university says about 80% of its cuts will be from its staffing budgets, with the remaining 20% from non-staff and capital savings.
Questions have been raised over how the university got into its current situation.
Prof Thirunamachandran had said in the institution’s annual financial report, published in July last year, that “we are in a relatively strong financial position” despite difficulties across the sector.
The document confirmed the university made a profit of £3.6m in the 2023/24 financial year – although this was down from £7.2m the previous year – from an income of £319m, up 21% compared to 2023.
It also highlighted there were 11,000 more students enrolled in 2024, a total of 38,000, up from 27,000 the previous year.
CCCU’s financial position is far from unique, as costs soar, inflation bites and universities continue to out-compete each other by deploying shiny new campuses and state-of-the-art facilities.
Speaking about her appointment, Prof Ozanne said: “I am privileged to be appointed as the next vice-chancellor and principal of Canterbury Christ Church University.
“I look forward to working with students, colleagues and external partners to build on the institution’s proud record of civic engagement and supporting the regional workforce and our vital public services.
“The values of Canterbury Christ Church resonate with me personally and I am proud of its strength in driving social mobility and supporting excellent graduate employment.
“We will work with our local, national and international partners with courage and creativity to ensure we offer outstanding education, research, and knowledge exchange that makes a positive difference in the world.”
Judith Armitt, pro-chancellor and chair of the governing body, added:
“I am delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Claire Ozanne as the next vice-chancellor of Canterbury Christ Church University.
“Professor Ozanne is a distinguished vice-chancellor of a university with much in common with the values of our own, and has a record of strong leadership in a diverse range of higher education institutions.
“We are pleased to welcome Claire to the University at an exciting time as we set out to meet the ambitious goals in our Vision 2030, and as we continue to improve the student experience, enrich communities and shape sustainable futures.”
CCCU is a major employer in the south east and a centre for undergraduate and postgraduate education.
Its main campus is in Canterbury but it also has one in Medway at Chatham Maritime and another in Tunbridge Wells.
