This following email was sent today (26 January) to all staff from the Vice-Chancellor

Dear Colleagues,

After careful consideration and reflection, Dr Tim Westlake has decided to leave Sussex in order to pursue new opportunities within the sector and beyond.

Tim joined Sussex in August 2017 as Chief Operating Officer (COO) from the University of Manchester, where he was Director of the Student Experience and previously, Director of International Development. In November 2017 Council appointed Tim as University Secretary. 

During his time as COO, Tim has been responsible for leading 1,700 Professional Services colleagues across nine divisions (Communications, Marketing and Advancement; Estates, Facilities and Commercial Services; General Counsel, Governance and Compliance; Human Resources; IT Services and Sussex Projects; Library; Research and Enterprise; Student Experience; University Operations and Strategic Planning). In his role as University Secretary, he has provided strategic oversight and leadership of corporate and academic governance, and he has served as Secretary to Council.

Tim has given nearly seven years of exceptionally dedicated service to Sussex, through the difficult years of the pandemic, and has ensured smooth transitions between Vice-Chancellors and Chairs of Council. He has overseen the development and delivery of the University’s Capital Programme, which includes a wide range of physical and digital infrastructure projects that are central to our future ambitions. He has also led significant changes in Professional Services functions and in institutional policy and practice designed to support both the academic success of the University and to improve the wellbeing of staff and students.

Given the demands of his role as COO and University Secretary, and looking back at his contribution over his time at Sussex, it has been agreed that Tim can leave Sussex from the end of January.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Tim for his very significant contribution to the University and for his commitment to the Sussex community, and to wish him all the very best for the future. He leaves the University with our sincere appreciation for his service.
 
More information about interim arrangements for the Chief Operating Officer and University Secretary roles will follow in the near future.

Professor Sasha Roseneil 
Vice-Chancellor and President