University appoints first Chief Operating Officer

Glasgow Caledonian University has announced the appointment of the institution's first Chief Operating Officer. Experienced senior executive Susan Mitchell will take up the post at the start of October.

Mrs Mitchell has been in a similar position at the University of the West of Scotland since 2016 and was previously Director of Corporate Services at Police Scotland from 2013-2015. 

Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Pamela Gillies CBE FRSE, welcomed the appointment saying: "Mrs Mitchell brings to the University a rich experience of senior management from diverse sectoral backgrounds and her recent work in Higher Education in the West of Scotland will be incredibly helpful. I very much look forward to welcoming Susan to our team to assist us in delivering our ambitious plans for growth and prosperity from our Glasgow City Centre campus and from our hubs and partnerships around the world."

The new Chief Operating Officer's portfolio will include Finance, Estates & Facilities, Information Services and People Services. Following an early career in teaching, Mrs Mitchell trained as a chartered accountant and worked in the commercial retail sector with Marks and Spencer's and Boots, before moving to the public sector.

She said: "I am delighted to be joining the University, which has such a strong sense of purpose through its Common Good mission. The institution is at a very exciting stage in its development and the recent installation of Dr Annie Lennox as Chancellor is an inspiration to believe we can achieve great things.

"I am looking forward to working with the Principal, the Executive team and the wider university community and I am excited at the prospect of what we will achieve together. I will be aiming to find opportunities for growth while remaining true to our purpose and delivering for each and every one of our students. I see my role as creating endless possibilities for our students as well as our partners so everyone can benefit from the extraordinary teaching, learning and powerful research at Glasgow Caledonian University."