From 1st October, Professor Peter Bearman is to become Imperial's next Deputy Rector. He will succeed Professor Bill Wakeham who is leaving to become Vice-Chancellor of Southampton University.

The appointment co-incides with Imperial's restructuring into faculties and appointment of Imperial's first Faculty Principals. The Rector has therefore taken the opportunity to revise the Deputy Rector's role. Most of the duties that Prof. Wakeham used to carry out will now be the responsibility of the Faculty Principals. The main aspect of the Deputy Rector's role will be to co-ordinate academic initiatives across Faculties.

Prof. Bearman has been with the Aeronautics Department at Imperial since 1969 and is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering. He will retain his existing responsibilities as Pro-Rector (Projects). No replacement has, as yet, been announced for Prof. Wakeham's other role as Pro-Rector (Research).