New chief for student loans company named

Minister of State for Universities and Science, David Willetts, today announced the appointment of a new non-executive director of the Student Loans Company (SLC).

The new SLC non-executive director is Robert Kennedy, director of finance at the University of Dundee.

The appointment replaces Jane Hanson, who was recruited in March.

David Willetts, minister for universities and science, said:

"With the invaluable expertise in the fields of financial audit and risk management that Robert brings, this appointment will further strengthen the management of theSLC."

Mr Kennedy is a qualified chartered accountant by profession with experience in both the public and private financial sector. He is currently Director of Finance at Dundee University and a Director of APUC (Advanced Procurement for Universities and Colleges). Prior to that he was a Finance Director at Scotbeef and Group Finance Director at Gamma Holding Filtration Division (as part of the management board). Mr Kennedy also spent three years working for PricewaterhouseCoopers in management consultancy.