London South Bank University has opted for a non-academic vice-chancellor as its next leader, hiring Paul Kett from PwC.

Kett, formerly a director general for skills in the Department for Education, replaces David Phoenix, who has recently left LSBU to take over at the Open University.

He held the key role within the DfE from 2016 until 2022, acting as the principal adviser to the secretary of state for higher education, further education and adult skills.

Since leaving government, Kett has worked for consultancy giant PwC as its senior adviser and global director, education and skills.

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Starting his new role in September, Kett will also serve as the chief executive of the wider LSBU group that also includes colleges and academy schools.

Phoenix, a biochemist, led the creation of this group, a rare coming-together of institutions offering different levels of education.

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Kett said he was ¡°honoured¡± to be joining the university, having ¡°long championed the power of pathways to support and enable people to achieve their potential, particularly through further education colleges and universities working in partnership¡±. ?

¡°While there are many challenges facing the tertiary sector from which LSBU Group is not immune, our community has the ideas and imagination to overcome them,¡± he added.?

¡°Having adopted south London as my home over 15 years ago, I am excited to serve our staff, students and wonderful, diverse community as they realise their potential and in turn power London¡¯s economy, public services and civic life.¡±

LSBU announced a restructure involving 55 academic redundancies late last year ¨C one of dozens of institutions having to cut back owing?to current financial pressures.?

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Speaking?recently to?ÌÇÐÄVlog,?Kett said that he expects a decision on whether English tuition fees will be uplifted every year to come in the skills White Paper that is due out later this year. But he warned the government will also lay out what it wants in return from universities.

Andreas Raffel, the chair of the LSBU board of governors, said that hiring a leader from outside the higher education sector ¡°brings different insight and valuable experience that will serve us well¡±.

¡°His [Kett¡¯s] empathy for the important work we do for our students and partners in London made him the ideal choice to guide the LSBU Group through the challenging education environment,¡± Raffel added.

tom.williams@timeshighereducation.com