Former European Commission consultant Nick Juba is to become the new chief executive of cash-strapped City College Brighton and Hove.
He takes over at the 6,000-learner college from interim chief executive Monica Box, who is also interim principal, on September 21.
His appointment comes after FE Commissioner Dr David Collins was sent in with the college, rated by Ofsted as good in 2011, having been issued Skills Funding Agency notice of concern about finances.
Dr Collins pointed out in February, following the departure of Lynn Thackway as Ms Box’s predecessor, how “financial difficulties have coincided with a period of extensive instability in its executive team”.
Mr Juba is currently a director of the University of the Arts London, where he oversees the university’s awarding body responsible for strategic direction and improving the quality of pre-degree education in the arts.
He has previously worked at the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, an agency of the Department for Education, as senior adviser, as well as the European Commission.
“I am enormously excited to be given the opportunity to lead the college and work with students, staff, partners and the wider community to build on its past successes to ensure its future success,” said University of Brighton graduate Mr Juba, who has served as governors’ board chair at Worthing’s Northbrook College.
Julie Nerney, governors’ board chair, said: “We are immensely impressed by Nick’s long experience of working within the educational sector, his expertise of educational standards and qualifications, and work-related FE.”
A college spokesperson said the principal appointment process was underway and expected to be concluded by the end of the month.
Meanwhile, former Cambridge Regional College assistant principal for employer engagement Laraine Moody is the new vice principal for employer engagement at West Suffolk College.
“I am absolutely delighted to have taken up the new role and am looking forward to working closely with employers in the region,” she said.
“West Suffolk College is a forward-looking college which prides itself on the quality of experience for its learners and employers and I am very excited to be part of taking this forward.”
Principal Dr Nikos Savvas said: “We are delighted to welcome Laraine on board. She has extensive and relevant experience in this area and I know will be a dynamic leader to our already highly proficient employer responsive and apprenticeship department.
“We see ourselves as an engine in this region’s economy and this can only be achieved by excellent collaborations with businesses and local employers and the provision of skilled future workforces.”
And Basingstoke College of Technology has a new director of student experience in Alexis Smith. She joins from Richmond Upon Thames College, where she was head of student services.
“My role here is to support the learner journey and provide the highest quality student experience,” she said. “This means from a first open day visit right through to enrolling and progressing through the college and beyond.”
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