Former governor of Hong Kong Chris Patten, 54, has been made chancellor of Newcastle University, where his eldest daughter Kate was an undergraduate. He hopes to promote the university abroad, particularly in Asia.
Sir David Williams, 68, former vice-chancellor of Cambridge University, has been appointed chairman of the project company behind the creation of a University for Peterborough. He succeeds Mike Styles.
Michael Shattock, registrar at the University of Warwick since 1983 and deputy registrar before that from 1969, is to retire from Warwick and take up a visiting professorship at the University of London's Institute of Education in September.
Patricia Ambrose, former policy adviser at the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals, has been seconded to the Standing Conference of Principals Limited as executive secretary for two years from March 1. She succeeds Tim Cox.
Alf Roberts, 53, engineering consultant and founding chairman of Powergen's electricity exchange, has been appointed chief executive and secretary at the Institution of Electrical Engineers. He will join in April, succeeding John Williams, who retires in June 1999.
Ffion Jenkins, director of operations for the Association for Business Sponsorship of the Arts and wife of Conservative leader William Hague, has been appointed to the board of the British Council.
Other new appointments to the board are Keith Vaz, Labour MP for Leicester East, who will become one of the board's two vice-chairs, and George Lemos, a consultant in racial equality.
They replace Patricia Hewitt, Roger Elliott and Emma Rothschild.
Nopeoplead Ffion Jenkins, director of operations for the Association for Business Sponsorship of the Arts and wife of Conservative leader William Hague, has been appointed to the board of the British Council.
Other new appointments to the board are Keith Vaz, Labour MP for Leicester East, who will become one of the board's two vice chairs, and George Lemos, a consultant in racial equality.
They replace Patricia Hewitt, Roger Elliott and Emma Rothschild.