Claire Geddes, the Chief Executive of Lancaster University Students’ Union, has been seconded to the University to work on strategic projects.
The Director of Strategic Projects is listed on the University website as Dr Giles Carden, who is also the Chief of Staff. His role includes: “leading and coordinating major, transformational strategic initiatives, a recent example would be Lancaster University Leipzig.” Dr Carden “also has responsibilities for HE policy matters.”
While Ms Geddes is on secondment, correspondence relating to her role in the Students’ Union is to be directed to Jane Morgan Jones, the Financial Controller of the Students’ Union.
A Students’ Union spokesperson told SCAN: “An opportunity has arisen for the CEO to undertake a project for the University on secondment. The Trustee Board are in the process of finalising interim arrangements and these will be communicated to staff. It would be inappropriate to comment on HR matters relating to individual members of staff.”
Update (15/11/19): Antony Blackshaw, the Managing Director of Blackshaw Management Consultants Ltd, has been appointed as the Acting CEO of the Students’ Union. Blackshaw Management Consultants say “Interim Chief Executive engagements are our largest area of work, supporting trustee boards with change and continuity programmes as well as preparation and support in the recruitment of new Senior Managers.”
Mr Blackshaw has previously worked as Acting Chief Executive of the students’ unions of various universities, including Ulster University, Wolverhampton, Kent, and Oxford.
A Students’ Union spokesperson told SCAN: “The Trustee Board have appointed Antony Blackshaw to be Interim CEO until Christmas. Antony is one of the most experienced people in the sector, having held several permanent and interim CEO and director roles. He has also worked with us previously here at Lancaster Students’ Union.”
Lancaster University declined to comment.
