On 22 October 2024, the University announced two new appointments to its executive board (UEB): Nigel Alcock as Chief Financial and Operating Officer (CFO) and Vikki Goddard as Academic Services Officer.
The UEB is led by Vice-Chancellor, Charlie Jeffery, and manages resources such as finance, people and estates, organisation such as internal structures and policies, and services such as technological systems.
The CFO monitors external events such as financial or political events, and interprets potential outcomes for the University. The role also takes part in draft budgets, accounts and performance indicators, therefore, this role will prove crucial during the University’s financial troubles.
Nigel Alcock is a highly experienced CFO, previously holding posts at the University of Surrey from April 2023-July 2024, the University of Cambridge from 2021-2023, Royal Holloway in 2019 and Coventry University from 2016-2019.
Prior to his involvement in Higher Education, he has acted as CFO of two other companies; Energetics and St Andrew’s Healthcare. Alcock’s background is in accounting, and he spent 25 years in a variety of financial and commercial roles for companies operating across Europe, US and Asia.
Nouse understands that Alcock is seen as a safe pair of hands in the financial department, and perhaps an attempt from the University to reposition its situation on a more secure trajectory. We have heard from a staff member, who wished to remain anonymous, that Alcock is seen as an improvement over his predecessor.
The previous CFO, Patrick Craig, departed in early 2023. There is currently an absence of publicly available records as to why this was, however the University states that both appointments are contingent with plans to ‘review and reorganise board roles’.
Vikki Goddard will take the position of chief academic services officer from 3 March 2025. This is a new role which aims to bring together leadership of the Research, Innovation and Knowledge Exchange (RIKE), Student and Academic Services (SAS), and Faculty Operations.
Goddard has previously held roles as Registrar, Chief Operating Officer, Director of Strategic Planning, alongside senior leadership positions at University of Manchester, Salford and Liverpool. Her most recent role was Director of Operations for the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health at the University of Manchester. Goddard also runs a consulting firm, which provides strategic planning, alongside ‘reviews and restructures’ to HE institutions.
Tim Long, local York UCU Treasurer, told Nouse, “UCU York seeks to have a good relationship with the new Executive Board members. We hope that both Nigel and Vikki can act as custodians and forces for good in their respective roles, and we aim to work with them in a productive capacity over the coming months and years to ensure the future success of our University.”
