Muir Russell
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| Sir Muir Russell | |
| Principal of the University of Glasgow | |
|---|---|
| Term | 2003 – |
| Predecessor | Professor Sir Graeme Davies |
| Born | 19 January 1949 Glasgow |
| Alma mater | University of Glasgow |
| Residence | Principal's Lodging, University of Glasgow |
| Profession | Civil servant |
| Salary | £230,000 (2008)[1] |
| Spouse | Eileen Alison Mackay |
Sir (Alastair) Muir Russell[2] KCB DL FRSE is a former civil servant and currently Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Glasgow, and Chairman of the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland.
He was born in Glasgow and educated at The High School of Glasgow and the University of Glasgow, where he took a First in Natural Philosophy and was a member of the Union. He joined the Scottish Office in 1970 and became Secretary of the Scottish Development Agency on its establishment in Glasgow in 1975. He was Principal Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Scotland from 1981 to 1983 and was seconded to the Cabinet Office in 1990. He was appointed Permanent Secretary at The Scottish Office in May 1998, and to the Scottish Executive since its establishment in 1999. He was widely believed to be primarily responsible for the massive overspend on the new Scottish Parliament Building and was criticised by Lord Fraser of Carmyllie's enquiry for failing to keep the politicians informed that the expenditure was far in excess of the budget.
He took office as Principal of the University of Glasgow on 1 October 2003, but attracted much criticism for his handling of the 2006 lecturers' strike, as well as attempts to close the University's Crichton Campus in Dumfries and for receiving pay rises which were much greater than the rate of inflation.[3] He will retire in October 2009, being succeeded by Professor Anton Muscatelli, former Vice-Principal of the University and currently Principal of Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh.
He was elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 2000 and holds honorary degrees from the University of Strathclyde and the University of Glasgow. He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the Queen's Birthday Honours in 2001.[4] On 7th October 2008, Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill announced Sir Muir would succeed Sir Neil McIntosh as Chairman of the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland.[5]
| Government offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sir Russell Hillhouse |
Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Executive 1998-2003 |
Succeeded by Sir John Elvidge |
| Academic offices | ||
| Preceded by Professor Sir Graeme Davies |
Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Glasgow 2003–October 2009 |
Succeeded by Professor Anton Muscatelli |
[edit] References
- ^ "Who they are … and what they earn". The Herald. Newsquest. http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/education/display.var.2486293.0.who_they_are_and_what_they_earn.php. Retrieved on 13th June 2009.
- ^ Sir Muir Russell at the Glasgow University Story
- ^ £23,000 pay rise for university principal
- ^ Scots honoured in Queen's birthday list
- ^ Russell to head Judicial Appointments Board
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