Bradford announced today that Professor Cantor will take over on 1 October.

Koen Lamberts, currently deputy vice-chancellor and provost at the University of Warwick, had already been announced as Professor Cantor’s successor at York.

Professor Cantor’s appointment at Bradford was unexpected. He had planned to stay at the institution until the end of the 2013 – its 50^th anniversary year – and then return to full-time employment as a scientist and engineer.

But today staff at York were told in a statement that he would be leaving the university on 30 September to take up his new position at Bradford.

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York’s deputy vice-chancellor, Jane Grenville, will take over as acting vice-chancellor until Professor Lamberts takes up his post on 1 January 2014.

Professor Cantor, who has been York vice-chancellor since 2002, said Bradford “is a great university and a great city. I look forward to working over the next few years with the university’s staff, students, alumni, friends and partners, to help build its future strength and success.”

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Mark Cleary, the current Bradford vice-chancellor had already announced that he is stepping down after five years in the job.

Paul Jagger, chair of council at Bradford, said: “Professor Cantor brings a wealth of experience to the role, in higher education, business, government and the region.

“We are delighted to be able to appoint such a highly respected figure to lead our university. He is perfectly placed to develop a compelling and exciting vision for our institution and drive forward our mission – Making Knowledge Work.”

Professor Cantor started his career at the University of Sussex before moving to the University of Oxford in 1981.

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He became the director of the Oxford Centre for Advanced Materials and Composites in 1990 and in 1995 was appointed as head of the department of materials. He became head of the division of mathematical and physical sciences before joining York.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com