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(Photograph) - Sir Tim Lankester has been appointed director of the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, just two weeks after losing a tussle to remain permanent secretary of the Department for Education and Employment.

His move to succeed Michael McWilliam, who retires in July 1996, follows a distinguished career in public service. He joined the Treasury in 1973 as a principal, and served as private secretary at 10 Downing Street from 1978 to 1981. Between 1985 and 1988 he served as economics minister at the British Embassy in Washington. He was appointed permanent secretary of the Overseas Development Administration in 1989 and permanent secretary of the Department for Education in 1994.

Sir Tim brings experience of working as an economist for the World Bank in the 1960s to his new role, as well as higher education contacts.

His departure from the DFEE leaves a department dominated by officials from the former Employment Department including the new permanent secretary Michael Bichard, formerly DE permanent secretary. Five of the DFEE's eight board directors came from the DE.

Mr McWilliam has been director of SOAS since 1989, and was previously group managing director of Standard Chartered Bank.