James Hutton Institute chief taking up new post Down Under

Professor Iain Gordon, chief executive of the James Hutton Institute since its inception in 2010, is to leave his post in September to become deputy vice chancellor at James Cook University in Australia.

Prof Gordon worked in Australia immediately prior to coming back to Scotland to oversee the merger of the Scottish Crop Research Institute and the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute.

Ray Perman, chairman of the board of the James Hutton Institute, said: “While we are very sorry to lose Iain, the fact that he has been headhunted to fill this important post is an indication of the worldwide scientific reputation the James Hutton Institute has built under his leadership.”

Prof Gordon said: “It has been an honour for me to lead the James Hutton Institute over the past four and a half years.”