The University of Buckingham has announced that Lynette Ryals will be its new vice-chancellor, after the acrimonious departure of its former leader.
Ryals, who joins from Cranfield University, where she has spent the past 25 years, will begin her role at the start of the next academic year. She will replace David Cole, who has served as interim vice-chancellor since January.
Cole stepped in after the previous vice-chancellor, James Tooley, was suspended from his role in October 2024 over accusations made by his ex-wife.
Tooley was later reinstated in January 2025 after an investigation cleared him of “a number of serious allegations” but was then prevented from standing for a further term as vice-chancellor.
Ryals is currently deputy-vice-chancellor for the Faculty of Business and Management at Cranfield, which is in the process of merging with King’s College London, and serves on the university’s executive board, having previously been a professor and head of department at the institution.
