Moray College’s principal has been sacked after being in his post for just a matter of months.
The board of management at the faculty announced yesterday that Frank Hughes had been removed from his position with immediate effect.
In a statement, college chiefs refused to give details about why he had been dismissed.
But they stressed he had not been involved in any misconduct or improper behaviour.
Mr Hughes took up the post at the beginning of this academic season last August.
Moray College UHI senior management confirmed they were working on interim arrangements to ensure that there would be no disruption for students.
A spokeswoman said the decision to sack Mr Hughes was not a reflection on his character.
She added: “There has been no misconduct or improper behaviour involved at all.”
Mr Hughes could not be contacted for comment last night.
Last night, Moray Council leader Stewart Cree said he was baffled the decision.
He said: “This is a surprise to me, I have no idea why the college has made this move.
“In any dealings I have had with Frank he has seemed to be a great ambassador for Moray College.”
Moray MSP Richard Lochhead, who had a one-to-one meeting with Mr Hughes last month, said he hoped the college would act quickly to ensure learning was not affected.
He said: “This is a very surprising development, and I’m sure the board will recognise the need to deliver stability as quickly as possible to ensure the college can move forward and deliver for students, staff and the wider community in Moray.”
The depute convener of the local authority’s children and young people’s services committee, Forres councillor George Alexander, suggested Mr Hughes’s predecessor Mike Devenney may have been a hard act to follow.
He said: “I’m quite astonished and I’ve no idea where this has come from.
“Mr Hughes replaced Mike Devenney in the role, and I did think he would be a difficult man to replace.
“But I can’t guess as to what is behind this – I’ve never heard any suggestions he was not capable in the job.”
Before his appointment as principal in the summer, Mr Hughes worked as a hospitality management lecturer at the college for 13 years.
In 1999 he was appointed programme manager for the hospitality and tourism department.
After that Mr Hughes worked at Stafford College and most recently at North East Scotland College’s Aberdeen campus where he was vice-principal for student services.
Mr Devenney, vice-principal at the University of the Highlands and Islands, ran Moray College for eight years prior to Mr Hughes taking over.
He was unavailable for comment last night.
Moray College was established in 1971 as Elgin Technical College, under the direct control of the local education authority.
In 1997 the college became an active partner in the University of the Highlands and Islands Project (UHIP) and increased its provision of higher education programmes.
