The Challenge

Saxton Bampfylde were chosen to assist UCL in the search to find the University next Chair of Council. The appointee needed to have significant experience in both executive and governance capacities, especially of leadership at scale, given the institution’s size as a £1bn University. Candidates could come from a number of sector backgrounds, but ideally would bring a combined public sector and commercial approach, with an absolute affinity for UCL’s academic values and focus on excellence. The University was undergoing significant capital development plans at the time, and resource allocation, as well as financial acuity was of key significance. The University has an engaged Senate, and as such candidates needed to be able to balance a focus on big-picture strategy, and commercial viability, with an equally engaged approach to understanding the needs of UCL’s academic community. As such we briefed with a number of stakeholders across the University, including hosting open Q&A sessions with any members of Senate who wished to attend the sessions.

Our approach and success

UCL were delighted to appoint Victor Chu from a competitive candidate field. Victor is a Senior Adviser to Chatham House, and Chairman of the First Eastern Investment Group in Hong Kong. Born in Canton, China, Victor now splits his time between London and Hong Kong. Victor is an alumnus and Honorary Fellow of the University. Victor previously served as Director and Council Member for the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, he is Chair of the Hong-Kong-Europe Business Council, and co-Chars the World Economic Forum’s International Business Council. He sits on the advisory boards of Yale University and the Oxford Martin School.