Malcolm Grant was this week appointed provost of University College London, writes Alison Goddard.
Professor Grant, who is pro vice-chancellor of the University of Cambridge, will take up the post on October 1.
He is a vociferous advocate of modernisation and is noted for his attempts to reform Cambridge's archaic governance system. As provost of UCL, Professor Grant will scrutinise the way the college is run.
Last year, members of UCL's academic board in effect forced the former provost, Sir Chris Llewellyn Smith, to resign. Professor Grant said: "I have heard that (the role of the academic board) needs reform but I will reserve judgement."
Professor Grant was born in New Zealand and came to the UK in 1972. He is a former vice-dean of the law faculty at UCL.