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New Vice-Chancellor for Bristol

Press release issued: 12 September 2001

[University Welcome Page]

UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL
University gains new chief

Professor Eric Thomas
There is a new man at the helm of one of the West's leading institutions.

Professor Eric Thomas succeeded
Sir John Kingman as Vice-Chancellor of Bristol University on September 1.

Professor Thomas, who is 48 and married with two children, studied medicine at Newcastle University. He taught and researched at Sheffield and Newcastle universities before being appointed Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Southampton in 1991. In the same year, he became a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Southampton University Hospitals Trust.

He was made Head of Southampton's School of Medicine in 1995 and Dean of its Faculty of Medicine, Health and Biological Sciences in 1998. He was selected for the post of Deputy Vice-Chancellor just before the opportunity to move to Bristol arose.

Professor Thomas was Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. He is the author of over 150 publications.

Speaking of his new appointment, Professor Thomas said: "I'm joining a brilliantly successful university in a truly inspiring city and I can't wait to get started!

'I believe in firm leadership, but also in consensus and openness. I'm keen to build strong partnerships that will underpin the University's teaching and research and make the most of its role in Bristol and the region.

'The University is also an international organisation with students and staff from more than 100 countries and research collaborations that extend world-wide. I'll do all I can to enhance its competitive position globally as well as nationally.

'I see no contradiction between that and working with local schools to encourage more bright kids from Bristol to apply here, or with the business community to promote the local and regional economy. It's all part and parcel of what a modern, ambitious university should be about.'

Sir John Kingman was Vice-Chancellor for 16 years and is now becoming Director of the Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences at Cambridge University.

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Email: public-relations@bristol.ac.uk
Copyright: 2001 The University of Bristol, UK
Updated: Wednesday, 12-Sep-2001 12:56:04 BST

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