Atherton’s appointment and time at Lancaster

The appointment of Professor Andrew Atherton was a change in direction for Dundee University.

His predecessor, Professor Sir Pete Downes, had spent 20 years at the university, including as vice-principal, before stepping up to the top job.

By comparison, Atherton, a professor of enterprise at Lancaster University, was an unknown quantity.

An expert in small- to mediumsized enterprises, at Lancaster he was responsible for academic development and oversaw annual planning and major institutional projects.

He also played a major role in bringing the £85 million Eden Project North to Morecambe when he was deputy-vice chancellor at Lancaster University

Prior to his life in Lancaster, Prof Atherton helped establish the country’s first new engineering school in 20 years at Lincoln University, in partnership with Siemens.

A Mandarin Chinese speaker, he was appointed from a shortlist of five candidates.

Ronnie Bowie, chairman of the university court, said at the time:

“I am delighted we have been able to appoint Andrew as our new principal after a very competitive and rigorous recruitment process which included an international field of candidates.

“He evidences not only an excellent record of achievement but also a clear empathy with our values and a shared aspiration across the student experience, learning and teaching, and in research.”

However, his time at Dundee got off to a rocky start when it emerged he was given a £40,000 “disruption allowance” to help meet the costs of his move to Scotland from Lancaster.