The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Essex, Professor Colin Riordan, has been appointed as Vice-Chancellor of Cardiff University. He will leave Essex in 14 months time, at the end of August 2012, having served at Essex for five years.

Professor Riordan has spearheaded the University’s £200 million-plus capital investment programme, its success in maintaining its position among the UK’s top ten research institutions, and its international strategic agenda.

He joined Essex in 2007 from Newcastle University, where he was Pro-Vice-Chancellor (PVC) and Provost of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. He had previously served as the Dean of Postgraduate Studies for his Faculty, and as Head of the School of Modern Languages.

Before joining Newcastle, he taught at the University of Wales, Swansea, and Julius-Maximilians Universität-Würzburg in Germany. A Professor of German, he has published widely on post-war German literature and culture. He is a graduate of the University of Manchester.

Professor Riordan said: “The University of Essex is in a strong position to face the challenges ahead. For the next 14 months I will continue to work with Essex’s senior management team on our ambitious programme of investment in new student facilities and opportunities, cutting edge research and international developments.

“I will be sorry to leave Essex in 14 months, but I look forward to the opportunity to serve as Vice-Chancellor at Wales’ premier university.”

Chair of the University Council, Bill Gore, said: “The University of Essex has gone from strength to strength under the leadership of Colin Riordan, with significant growth in student numbers, the successful establishment of international collaborations and continuing research success. We are sorry Colin will be leaving Essex, but wish him every success when he takes up his new role next year.”

Lord Currie of Marylebone, who takes over as Chair of Council next month, said: “We will start the process of recruiting a new Vice-Chancellor in the autumn. The University is in a healthy financial position with a strong senior management team and is looking forward to further successes as it approaches its 50th anniversary.”