The Vice-Chancellor of Durham University has announced his plans to retire at the end of the next academic year.
Professor Stuart Corbridge announced he would be stepping down from his role on July 31, 2021 due to health reasons.
The university says it has now started an international search for a new leader that will be led by its governing body, Durham University Council.
In a statement to staff and students, Professor Corbridge said he would continue to lead the university at full capacity until that date.
He said: “Leading Durham University over the last five years has been an immense privilege for me both as a leader and as an academic.
“As a community we have achieved so much with our University Strategy to transform our research, education and wider student experience.
"I am very proud of those collective achievements.
“We continue to be a world-leading University, albeit we now face many challenges caused by the covid-19 pandemic, like all universities.
“I remain immensely grateful to all of the colleagues, students and friends of the University who have supported me through my tenure as Vice-Chancellor, and with whom I will continue to work over the next academic year.”
Professor Corbridge joined Durham University in September 2015, having previously served as Deputy Director and Provost at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).
He is a board member of the Russell Group; the Association of Commonwealth Universities; the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA); the Baltic Flour Mills Visual Arts Trust and the North East Local Enterprise Partnership.
At Durham University he developed and led the University Strategy 2017-2027 to transform the University’s research, education and wider student experience.
Chairman of Durham University Council Joe Docherty said: “I’d like to commend Professor Corbridge for his steadfast leadership in what is a very turbulent and challenging environment, and I and my colleagues on the University Council look forward to working with him over the coming year.
“Council will now begin the search for a new Vice-Chancellor to take over the leadership of the university from August 1, 2021 and we intend to make an appointment by early 2021.”
