7 godzin temu
Dundee University's new chief finance officer has quit after just over a week in the post, leaving the cash-strapped institution scrambling to find a replacement. Chris Reilly, who took on the interim role at the start of last week, departed by "mutual agreement" as the university grapples with a severe financial crisis.
The Scottish university is facing a £35 million deficit and is looking to cut hundreds of jobs to address its mounting financial troubles. The Scottish Government has already been forced to use special powers to award a further £40 million to the struggling institution.
Leadership turmoil continues
Professor Nigel Seaton, Dundee's interim principal and vice chancellor, confirmed Reilly's departure in a message to staff. He said the university is "moving quickly" to replace the finance chief, who would help guide the institution through the "next steps" of its recovery plan.
Seaton himself only recently took on the leadership role after the previous interim principal quit last month. The departure adds to a pattern of senior leadership instability at the university during its financial crisis.
Critical report sparked resignations
Former interim principal Professor Shane O'Neill resigned in June following a damning report by Professor Pamela Gillies, the former Glasgow Caledonian University principal. The report was highly critical of O'Neill and other former senior Dundee University figures for their handling of the crisis before its full scale became public.
The report found that members of the university executive group had "failed" to "properly respond to the worsening situation" with the institution's finances in 2024. This group included what was described as a "triumvirate" of O'Neill, former principal Professor Iain Gillespie and ex-chief operating officer Jim McGeorge.
(PA/London) Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
