After 16 years at the helm, principal and vice-chancellor Sir Anton Muscatelli has announced his retirement from the University of Glasgow.
The Italian-born economist, who studied and taught at the university for more than two decades, will step down this October, leaving behind a legacy praised by staff, MPs, and international academics alike.
Sir Anton became principal in 2009 following a stint at Heriot-Watt University.
Over his career, he has also also served as a consultant to the World Bank, the European Commission, and the Scottish Government. While widely respected for his leadership and contributions to higher education, his £400,000 salary has drawn some criticism for exceeding that of both the UK Prime Minister and the Scottish First Minister combined.
In April 2024, Sir Anton announced he would retire, and will now focus his role as President of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, which he assumed in May 2025. In addition to authoring a report on regional economic development to inform Scottish Labour’s 2026 Holyrood manifesto.
MPs across party lines have paid tribute to his “exceptional contributions” to the university and to Scottish higher education.
Sir Anton will be succeeded by Professor Andy Schofield, who will take up the post of principal and vice-chancellor on Wednesday 1st October, 2025.
Professor Schofield will be joining Glasgow from Lancaster University, where he had served as vice-chancellor since 2020. A theoretical condensed matter physicist, he previously held senior academic and leadership positions at the University of Birmingham and has experience on several national science and education boards.
Commenting on his appointment, Professor Schofield said in an internal communications email sent to UofG students: “Glasgow is an impressive, world-changing institution which has made huge strides under Sir Anton’s leadership.
“I very much look forward to building on his legacy and working with a brilliant set of colleagues to take the University forward.”
Gavin Stewart, Convenor of Court at the university, added: “Under Sir Anton’s leadership, the University has strengthened its global reputation and is well placed for the next chapter as we approach our 575th anniversary.”
A spokesperson for the University of Glasgow said: “The University of Glasgow is a world-leading institution with global links and partnerships. Our international activities support our global reputation, and we have robust policies and guidance in place – which have been strengthened since the publication of these figures over eight years ago – to ensure that all business travel provides value for money and positively impacts on the organisation.”
Featured image via Pexels
