Lancaster University has appointed a new interim Pro Vice-Chancellor to join its senior leadership team.

Professor Maria Piacentini will take up the post of Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education and EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) on an interim basis for 12 months from April.

She replaces Professor Sharon Huttly who is leaving Lancaster University after five years as Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education and EDI.

Professor Piacentini, who is currently Deputy Dean of Lancaster University Management School, is a qualitative social science researcher focusing on vulnerable consumers in difficult marketplaces. She is the Director of the Centre for Consumption Insights, an inter-disciplinary research centre, and co-chairs the UK Academy of Marketing SIG ‘Consumer Research with Societal Impact’.

Professor Piacentini has a long-standing commitment to education. She has chaired the Lancaster University Assessment and Feedback Task Group, was Head of the Department of Marketing and has co-authored one of the leading European textbooks in her field.

She has also demonstrated strategic leadership and commitment to the organisational EDI objectives through her role as co-chair of the Gender Pay Gap Task Group, and continuing this through membership of the Institutional Self-Assesment Team for the University’s Athena Swan submission.

In 2019, she was awarded the Lancaster University Award for Outstanding Contribution, in recognition of her leadership contribution across the University.

Professor Piacentini said: “I am delighted to be taking up this role, and to be closely involved in shaping the next stage of the University’s strategy around Education and EDI. Having worked on a number of projects across the University, I have a solid understanding of the issues we face, and I’m looking forward to working with colleagues from different parts of the University. I am very much looking forward to leading the University on Education and EDI, and continuing the excellent and important work and progress made by Sharon in this role.”

Professor Steve Bradley, Interim Vice-Chancellor, said: “Maria has a strong and continuous track-record and commitment to education and EDI goals and brings with her a wealth of experience, skills and enthusiasm. I look forward to working with her to meet the University’s objectives in these important areas.”