An expert in management and business education, Professor Croney’s current role sees him focus on strategic planning and international development at Northumbria. He has previously served as the institution’s pro vice-chancellor for learning and teaching, and as dean of Newcastle Business School.
He will take over from Professor Henderson in May, when the current vice-chancellor will retire.
Professor Croney said it was an “honour and a privilege” to join the university, hailing its “outstanding reputation for its student experience, high-calibre research and business engagement activity”.
“I look forward to working with all the staff and students across the university in the new strategic context of higher education in the UK,” he said. “I believe that Teesside now has a great opportunity to develop further as a global university with an international reputation for quality, enterprise and learning opportunities.”
Under Professor Henderson, Teesside University more than doubled in size, became the first modern university to win the Times Higher Education University of the Year award, and received a Queen’s Anniversary Prize for enterprise and business engagement.
Professor Henderson, who has completed 40 years of service within higher education, said his decision to retire “was one of the hardest I have ever made, but I believe it is the right time, both for myself and the university”. He added that he was confident that Professor Croney could lead the institution “to further success”.
Professor Croney joins Teesside as a £20 million teaching and learning building nears completion. Other ongoing projects include a £6 million refurbishment of the Orion science, technology and engineering building, and a significant upgrade of the library.
