Alastair King, KStJ DL appointed Chair of Governors
The Chair of Governors leads Birkbeck’s governing body and oversees the general business and financial operations of the institution.
Alderman Alastair King has been appointed as Chair of Governors at Birkbeck, University of London.
Alastair, who is currently serving as the 696th Lord Mayor of London, took up the post at the end of September following a competitive recruitment process.
He takes over from Sir Andrew Cahn KCMG who was Chair of Governors from 2019.
Early in his career, Alastair was a lawyer and he practiced as a solicitor at leading international law firm Baker & McKenzie in the City and in Asia. Later, he held senior positions at SPARK Ventures (formally NewMedia SPARK PLC) a pioneering technology venture capital company in London, and was Managing Director at Galahad Capital Plc.
In his spare time, he is a keen boxer and also enjoys hill walking in Scotland with his wife, Florence, and their dog.
Sally Wheeler, Vice-Chancellor said: “I am delighted that Alastair King has been appointed as Birkbeck’s new Chair of Governors. He brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the role, which I am sure will prove to be invaluable to Birkbeck. It is testament to Birkbeck’s unique and enduring offer and place in the higher education landscape that the unpaid role of Chair of Governors attracted an incredibly high calibre of applicants.”
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Sir Andrew Cahn, very much indeed, for the extensive contribution he made to Birkbeck over the last six years and wish him the very best for the future.”