Northumbria University's top boss is to step down next year, it has been revealed.
Professor Andrew Wathey has announced he will be leaving his role as the university's vice-chancellor and chief executive after 13 years.
The 62-year-old, who was revealed to be earning a salary of £243,000 in 2017, said it has been a "privilege" to lead the university which is now ready for the challenges of life after the Covid-19 pandemic.
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It has been confirmed Prof Wathey will be retiring on May 1, 2022, with a search for his successor now set to begin.
Prof Wathey, who was awarded a CBE in 2016, said: "It has been an unparalleled privilege to lead this great university, to work alongside brilliant and committed colleagues and students, and to collaborate with our world-class partners, here in the UK and globally.
"Northumbria has transformed into a vibrant realisation of its ambition to be a research-rich, business-focussed, professional university, a new kind of excellent university taking on tomorrow, and stands ready to take on the opportunities and challenges of a post-pandemic future.
"It has been an honour to have played a part in this transformation."
Prof Wathey added that his retirement would provide a chance to explore new opportunities to contribute to higher education and public life, while pursuing his own academic interests in musicology.
During his time as vice-chancellor, he has served on numerous national higher education sector bodies and committees and is currently a board member of the Student Loans Company and the Quality Assurance Agency.
Under his leadership Northumbria University has more than doubled its research capacity, moving from 80th to 50th in research power ranking.
Chair of the board of governors, Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods, says Prof Wathey will be sorely missed after overseeing a "hugely successful transformation" of the university.
"Andrew Wathey has been an outstanding vice-chancellor during his tenure at the University of Northumbria," she said.
"He has overseen a hugely successful transformation of the university into one that is widely recognised as being a challenger institution, well placed to address the demands and opportunities of the future.
"He set a truly ambitious vision and strategy for the university, and during his tenure the University’s research, its approach to access, and the professionalism and the strength of its academic community have been transformed, alongside developments in the estate.
"As a strong advocate of partnership and collaboration, he has driven the university’s economic, social and cultural contribution to the North East.
"Northumbria's international activity, reach and global prominence have also grown rapidly, with partnerships and collaborative agreements across the globe.
"Professor Wathey has made an enormous contribution to securing a very positive future for Northumbria University, to supporting the higher education sector more widely both nationally and internationally, and to the region locally.
"He will be hugely missed by staff, students and external partners."
