Brian Roper has been appointed vice-chancellor of London Metropolitan University, which was created by the merger of the University of North London and London Guildhall University in 2002.
Mr Roper, former vice-chancellor of North London, had been joint head of London Met with Roderick Floud, who was vice-chancellor of Guildhall. Professor Floud will become president of London Met, with responsibility for representing the university externally. The appointments will take effect from April 1.
Lecturers' union Natfhe has criticised the duplication in the appointments and questioned the need for the presidential role.