The chief executive of the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (Hefcw) is to receive a payout of nearly ?200,000 when he steps down ahead of the organisation¡¯s disbandment.

Hefcw will be dissolved at the end of March 2024 when its duties are taken up by the Commission for Tertiary Education and Research (CTER), a new post-16 regulator overseeing further education, higher education, apprenticeships, sixth forms and Welsh-government funded research and innovation.

At that point the role of Hefcw chief executive, held by David Blaney since 2012, will cease to exist. CTER¡¯s chief executive is Simon Pirotte, former principal of Bridgend College.

In a statement issued on 22 November, Hefcw said that it had reached a ¡°voluntary exit agreement¡± with Dr Blaney and that he?would leave in February 2024.

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¡°Acting as the employer, in consultation with and with guidance from Welsh government officials, Hefcw has agreed a voluntary exit with David Blaney. Dr Blaney will receive an exit payment of ?192,000 in accordance with the terms provided by the Civil Service Compensation Scheme,¡± the funder said.

¡°The exit required, and received, the prior approval of the Welsh ministers in accordance with the Civil Service Compensation Scheme delegated approval process.¡±

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Dr Blaney, a former assistant principal of the University of Wales, Newport ¨C now part of the University of South Wales ¨C has worked at Hefcw since 2005. Before becoming chief executive, he was head of funding and reconfiguration, and director of strategic development.

Dr Blaney said that it had been ¡°a privilege to serve as chief executive of Hefcw and a pleasure to work with a dedicated team of colleagues, who are committed to the success of higher education in Wales¡±.

He added: ¡°As my colleagues move into CTER, they will take with them all that has worked well at Hefcw and I wish all colleagues in the commission, and in the wider higher education sector, every success for the future.¡±

Dr Blaney¡¯s salary in 2021-22 was ?136,014, according to . In addition to this, he received pension benefits valued at ?31,155 ¨C putting his total remuneration at ?167,169.

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Rob Humphreys, Hefcw¡¯s chair, said Dr Blaney had served the funder ¡°with distinction for almost two decades¡±.

¡°He has ensured that the higher education sector in Wales is regulated and funded in a manner that promotes excellence in teaching and research, and incentivises HE institutions to be globally ambitious?while proactively contributing to their communities and to the nation as a whole,¡± Mr Humphreys said.

¡°The esteem that David is held in by senior figures within higher education across Wales and the wider UK is testament to his sustained high-quality contribution. On behalf of Hefcw I thank him for his leadership and commitment; he departs with our deep gratitude and very best wishes for the future.¡±

CTER is being chaired by Dame Julie Lydon, former vice-chancellor of the University of South Wales. Its deputy chair is David Sweeney, the former executive chair of Research England.

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chris.havergal@timeshighereducation.com