Regent’s appoints new Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive

Regent’s University London has appointed Professor Geoff Smith BA (Hons) MBA (Lond) MPhil (Oxon), PhD as the successor to Professor Aldwyn Cooper as Vice-Chancellor and CEO of Regent’s University London from Monday 12 August.

Currently Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Falmouth University, Professor Smith has also previously held leadership or teaching positions at the universities of Bath Spa, Huddersfield and Manchester. He has also been an institutional reviewer for the QAA and its equivalents in Asia and the Middle East.

Professor Smith said of his appointment:

“I am thrilled to be joining Regent’s University London at this significant moment in its history. We’re in a time of unprecedented technological, environmental and geo-political change. The mission to develop tomorrow’s global leaders, in this fast-moving context, is an important one and I believe that Regent’s is uniquely well-positioned to rise to this challenge. I look forward to working with staff and students on this and to building on Professor Cooper’s outstanding achievements over the past 12 years.”

Professor Smith graduated in Music from the University of Nottingham before completing an MPhil at the University of Oxford and a PhD in Composition at the University of Huddersfield. He became the youngest composer to be signed to Sony Classical in the history of the label before embarking on his academic career. He was awarded professorial title, aged 38, for ‘outstanding qualities of academic leadership’ and completed an MBA in Higher Education Management at the Institute of Education, UCL.

At Falmouth, he has been instrumental in expanding the university’s academic portfolio, and in developing a number of high-value, national and international partnerships. He led the development of the university’s online brand, Falmouth Flexible, and authored its 2030 Portfolio Strategy to underpin the development of a contemporary pedagogy fit for the 4th Industrial Revolution.

Welcoming his appointment, Dr Diana Walford CBE, Chair of the Board of Trustees said:

“We are delighted that Professor Smith is joining us. He brings a very special blend of innovative leadership, strategic vision, creativity and depth of knowledge of the higher education sector. This is a winning combination for the future of Regent’s and the futures of our students.”