The UK government has named the current executive chair of the Arts and Humanities Research Council, Christopher Smith, as its top choice to lead Research England.
If appointed Smith will succeed Jessica Corner as head of the funder after she steps down in January 2027, according to a statement from UK Research and Innovation.
With a budget of £2.5 billion a year, Research England has responsibility for funding research and knowledge exchange in higher education institutions across the country.
Smith, who has held his current AHRC role since 2020. Earlier this year he was asked to extend his tenure due to an “unsuccessful recruitment exercise.”
He will also retain his current additional responsibilities within UKRI for international partnerships, talent and skills, and research and innovation culture and environment.
He is a professor of Ancient History at the University of St Andrews and a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
“I am excited to have the opportunity to lead Research England into a vital next stage of its development, aligned to UKRI’s new strategic vision, and building on Jessica’s exceptional period of leadership in higher education nationally and globally,” he said.
Corner, who has led Research England since October 2022, had previously agreed to stay on until spring 2027 as UKRI searched for her successor.
UKRI’s chief executive Ian Chapman said: “I am delighted to continue working with Christopher in his new role. He has been an excellent champion for arts and humanities, and I know he will bring the same expertise, energy and commitment to his new role for Research England.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Professor Dame Jessica Corner for her tremendous stewardship of Research England, and her contribution, insight and input into UKRI’s development in recent years.”
According to UKRI, the appointment process for Smith’s successor as executive chair of the AHRC is likely to launch in early December. Him taking the Research England post is subject to pre-appointment scrutiny by the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee, which is expected to take place later this month.
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