Leadership in Finance - new interim arrangements

17 Feb 2020

New interim arrangements in place to lead the Directorate of Finance

From the end of April, David Soutter, our current Interim Director of Finance will be leaving at the end of his assignment as planned and we have appointed John Cunningham who will assume the role of Interim Director of Finance as we continue our search for the permanent post-holder.

John has been in the sector for 36 years, 19 of which have been in senior finance leadership positions with a variety of Higher Education Institutions. He is also returning to Manchester having worked in both our predecessor institutions and experienced the merger in 2004.

John started his higher education professional career in January 1984 as an administrative assistant in the finance department of the University of Manchester.

John then joined UMIST in 1991, initially as the Head of Management Accounting, and then as Deputy Director of Finance and then Director of Finance in 2001. John was Director of Finance at the time of Project Unity and up to the merger with the University of Manchester in September 2004.

Following his time at the University, John was the Director of Finance at De Montfort University for seven years, before returning to Manchester in early 2012 to be Director of Finance at Manchester Metropolitan University.

Over the last two years John has supported the Royal Northern College of Music in various capacities, including as their Interim Director of Finance for the last nine months.

Patrick Hackett, Registrar, Secretary and Chief Operating Officer said: “I would first like to thank David for his contribution to our University over the last six months. He has been a key part of both the Professional Services Leadership Team and Senior Leadership Team, and we have all valued his involvement in a number of projects, but in particular the development of our new vision and strategic plan.

“I would also like to welcome John back to our University. I look forward to hearing John’s views on what has changed (or maybe what hasn’t!) since his time with us. I am also pleased that we have secured such an experienced leader who knows us and can build on the work of the finance team.”