* Oxford University has appointed: Manfred Engel , currently professor of new German literature at Saarland University in Germany, Taylor professor of the German language; John Hawthorne , professor in the department of philosophy at Rutgers University, Waynflete chair with effect from October 1; and Martin Kinsey Davies , professor of philosophy at the Australian National University, Wilde chair from April.
* Luton University's Postgraduate Medical School has appointed as associate deans Alan Sinclair , former professor of medicine at Warwick University and a World Health Organisation expert in diabetes, and Clare Morris , former medicine training co-ordinator at Imperial College London. The university's faculty of creative arts, technologies and sciences has taken on the following staff: James Anslow , former chief production editor at News of the World ; Alec Charles , academic and broadcast journalist; John McCarthy, fitness coach, sports scientist and researcher; Paul Fiolkowski , certified athletic coach; and Jason Wilson , digital media expert.
* George Yip , professor of strategic and international management at the London Business School, is to become director of research and innovation at Capgemini Consulting.
* Iain Carpenter , professor of human ageing and associate director of the Centre for Health Services Studies at Kent University, has been appointed clinical lead on records standards for the Health Informatics Unit at the Royal College of Physicians.