Andy Haldane will become the university’s ninth chancellor. This was announced by Vice-Chancellor Koen Lamberts on 31 March. Mr Haldane graduated from Sheffield University with a BA in Economics in 1988.
Since graduation, he has gone on to take several high-profile positions, including Chief Economist and Executive Director of Monetary Analysis and Statistics at the Bank of England, Permanent Secretary for Levelling Up for the government in 2021, and CEO of the Royal Society of Arts.
He was also named in Time magazine’s top 100 most influential people in 2014, and ranked forty-fourth in the New Statesman’s Most Powerful Left-Wing Figures list in 2023 after demanding ‘a fundamental rethink of our model of capitalism’.
He was made Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2023 for services to the economy and public policy.
In a statement released by the University, Koen Lamberts said ‘Andy’s exceptional career spanning academia, public service, and economics, and his long-standing connection to the University, makes him an ideal fit for this prestigious role.
‘His deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing higher education, combined with his commitment to social impact, will be invaluable. We know he will be an inspiring figure for the entire University community.’
‘I also want to take this opportunity to thank Dame Anne Rafferty, who has been an exceptional Chancellor to the University for the last 10 years. We are truly grateful for her service and support,’ Mr Lamberts added.
In September 2023 RSA staff voted to strike for the first time in the institution’s history, citing a ‘refusal to negotiate in good faith’ regarding pay disputes.
The IWGB trade union then called for a boycott of the organisation for its ‘anti-democratic decisions’ and ‘hosting a fundraiser with Israeli government officials’. They went on to declare that ‘RSA leadership has been able to get away with severely tarnishing the reputation of the RSA.’ An improved wage offer was eventually accepted by the union in May 2024. Mr Haldane’s tenure as CEO of the RSA ended earlier this year.
Mr Haldane has also held the position of Chair of the Industrial Board at the AMRC, a partner institution of the University which has been the subject of much scrutiny from student voice bodies such as the SCCP (Sheffield Campus Coalition for Palestine).
The group’s ‘Genocide and Apartheid Complicity Report’ refers to the AMRC 108 times, declaring that ‘AMRC-developed technologies… are implicated in war crimes.’
The University’s official statement said that Mr Haldane’s ‘wealth of experience is helping to shape and set the strategy for the AMRC, which is key for future innovation to help the UK manufacturing sector grow’.
In a slight misnomer, Mr Haldane will perform a more ceremonial role in his capacity as Chancellor by comparison to the Vice-Chancellor, who holds the more executive decision-making powers at the University.
The Chancellor’s roles include presentations at graduation ceremonies, as well as other academic awards, and representing the institution externally.
Of his appointment, Mr Haldane said: “I am thrilled and honoured to become the next Chancellor of the University of Sheffield, my alma mater. The University is one of the jewels in the crown, not just of the city but of the whole country. I look forward to supporting and celebrating its continuing success and growing international profile.”
