* Judith Weir , formerly at Princeton and Harvard universities, has been appointed distinguished visiting research professor in composition at Cardiff University's School of Music.
* Arokia Nathan has been appointed to the chair of nanotechnology at the London Centre for Nanotechnology and University College London's department of electronic and electrical engineering. He was visiting professor at ETH Zurich.
* Gerry Johnson , senior fellow of the Advanced Institute of Management Research, formerly at Strathclyde University's Graduate School of Business, has been appointed Professor Sir Roland Smith chair in strategic management at Lancaster University.
* Glasgow University has appointed: Peter Gronn , currently a chair at Monash University, Melbourne, to the chair in public service, educational leadership and management; and Vic Lally, lecturer at Sheffield University, senior lecturer in science education.
* Michael Davies , deputy principal and dean of the faculty of engineering and physical sciences at Dundee University, has been made dean of engineering at Auckland University.
* Richard Gillingwater is to become dean of City University's Cass Business School. He joins from the Government's Shareholder Executive.
* Alex Markham , chief executive of Cancer Research UK, is stepping down next spring to return to Leeds University after a three-year secondment to the charity.