News | 12 July 2021
John Taylor CBE has been appointed as Chair of Cardiff Metropolitan University's Board of Governors. The Board is responsible for ensuring the effective governance of the University and for upholding the University's mission and values.
Mr Taylor was unanimously appointed as independent governor and Chair of the Board of Governors by the Board on 8th July, following an extensive recruitment and selection process.
Starting his career in Human Resources, Mr Taylor went on to lead companies in the employment, training and economic development sectors, including the Training and Enterprise Council (South East Wales), Development Board for Rural Wales and most recently, Acas, where he was appointed as the organisation's first Chief Executive and tasked with extending its remit into workplace improvement.
Mr Taylor is also a highly experienced, non-executive Director of a range of organisations in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors, and in both further and higher education. He has a passion for employment, education and organisational development and was a member of the Board of the University of West London for six years before serving for another three as the Deputy Chair of the Board of Governors. Mr Taylor has also served as the Chair of the Careers Service for Wales and is a board member of the University of Reading and Cardiff and the Vale College.
Awarded a CBE in the 2013 Queen's Birthday Honours, for services to employment relations, Mr Taylor has also been awarded a Doctorate of Literature (University of West London) and is a Chartered Manager and Companion of the Chartered Management Institute.
Following confirmation of his appointment, John Taylor said: "I am delighted to have been appointed Chair of the Board of Governors for such an impressive and progressive university - one that was named Welsh University of the Year 2021 by the Times and Sunday Times.
"The resilience and innovation shown by staff and students at Cardiff Metropolitan during these unprecedented times is nothing short of remarkable and I am looking forward to working with the Vice-Chancellor and her Executive Team as we begin to emerge from the pandemic and face the challenges of a post -Covid world."
President and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Cara Aitchison, said: "I am delighted to welcome John Taylor to the University and look forward to working in partnership with him in his role as Chair of the University's Board of Governors.
"I am confident the new Chair will help us deliver our current ambitions and, as we emerge from the pandemic, will also provide invaluable strategic oversight and support as we continue our development as a high-performing, impactful, collaborative and compassionate university."
