Leading businessman appointed Chancellor at Paisley University

By Scottish Recruitment

The University of Paisley has announced the appointment of Sir Robert Smith as its new Chancellor. Sir Robert, who will be installed as Chancellor of the University of Paisley in October 2003, will represent the University at the highest level and hold formal powers to confer degrees, diplomas and other academic distinctions.   Sir Robert (58), a highly respected figure in the Scottish business sector, has held a range of prominent posts in the commercial and financial arenas and chaired the committee which produced the recently published report for the government on 'Audit Committees: Combined Code Guidance' - an important investigation of audit procedures post-Enron. He is currently chairman of the Weir Group plc, as well as a BBC Governor and chairman of the Broadcasting Council for Scotland - a position he has held since 1999. Since 2002 Sir Robert, who is a qualified Chartered Accountant and former President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland, has been a member of the board of the British Council and of the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland. Commenting on his selection as Chancellor of the University, Sir Robert said: "I am honoured to accept the position as Chancellor of the University of Paisley and recognise the importance of our educational system in preparing graduates for employment. "The University of Paisley, in its vocational mission, is to be commended and I very much look forward to being involved with the activities of the University across west and south-west Scotland." University principal and vice chancellor Professor John Macklin said: "We are delighted to announce the appointment of Sir Robert Smith as the University's new Chancellor. "Sir Robert has demonstrated a great capacity for achieving excellence throughout his professional career and, indeed, his work embodies many of the core values of this institution. He will be a first class ambassador for the University of Paisley." In his activities outside the business arena Sir Robert has been chairman of the board of trustees of the National Museums of Scotland (1993 to 2002) and also held the post of vice-chairman (1996 to 1998) of the Museums and Galleries Commission. Sir Robert is currently president of the British Association of Friends of Museums, a position he has held since 1995. Sir Robert Smith replaces existing Chancellor Sir Robert Easton CBE DUniv, leading Scottish industrialist and former chairman of Yarrow Shipbuilders Limited, who will retire as Chancellor after 11 years service later this year.