David Hughes will join the University of Cambridge in early December.
As Director of Finance and head of the Finance Division, Mr Hughes will have oversight of financial management across the academic University, including all aspects of financial operations, control, reporting, stewardship, investment and compliance. He succeeds Andrew Reid, the current post-holder, who is retiring from the University in January 2018.
Mr Hughes’s appointment follows the recent appointment of Anthony Odgers to the newly created role of Chief Financial Officer. As Chief Financial Officer, Mr Odgers has responsibility for the University group, including Cambridge Assessment and Cambridge University Press. The Director of Finance will work closely with the Chief Financial Officer to guide the long-term financial strategy and development of the University and to provide financial advice to the University’s Council and its senior leadership.
Mr Hughes, an alumnus of Downing College, joins the University after some 30 years in the private sector with GSK and BG Group (now Royal Dutch Shell). He has held a number of senior corporate and operational finance roles, most recently as Head of Audit, BG Group, where he supported the development of more effective risk management and controls for the multinational company in a period of significant growth and capital investment.
Emma Rampton, the Registrary, said: “I am delighted to announce the appointment of David Hughes as Director of Finance. David brings to the role extensive experience of financial management in large, complex organisations which will be a real asset to the University. Anthony and I very much look forward to working with him.”
Anthony Odgers said: “We are excited to have David joining the leadership team. He brings not only a deep understanding of financial systems and processes but also wide-ranging experience that will be very helpful in formulating and carrying out the long-term financial strategy for the University.”
Mr Hughes said: “I am delighted to be joining the team at Cambridge at an exciting but challenging time for the sector. I look forward to building on the function’s existing relationships to support University management in tackling the issues and opportunities ahead, and to working with the Finance team, as part of the broader UAS, on their continued functional development.”