* The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service has appointed: Leicester University vice-chancellor Bob Burgess chair from July; and John Cappock , former finance deputy director at the University of the West of England, resources director.
* Leeds University has appointed: Tony Turner dean of biological sciences; Timothy Benton , of Aberdeen University, population ecology chair; Gill Valentine , of Sheffield University, human geography chair; and Martin Holmes , formerly at National Australia Bank, marketing director.
* Portsmouth University has appointed: Vasu Reddy as head of psychology; Peter Jones , of Portsmouth Hospital Trust, university chaplain; and Joe Docherty , formerly of the British Council, international director.
* The White Rose University Consortium has appointed Julian White , of BioIncubator York, chief executive.
* Laurence Patterson , of London University, is the new director of Bradford University's Cancer Therapeutics Institute.
* Peter Bush , head of regional collaboration at the Open University, has been appointed pro rector (academic) at University College, Northampton.
* The Standing Conference of Principals has set up a team to assess widening participation: Hazel Knox , Paisley University; Mike Osborne , Stirling University; Mee Foong Lee , European Network; and Colin Trotman and Heather Pudner , University of Wales.
* Elizabeth Towner , of Newcastle University, will lead research on unintentional injury in childhood at the University of the West of England.