Lord Kestenbaum installed as inaugural Plymouth University Chancellor

A Life Peer with a distinguished background in investment, innovation, and the voluntary sector has been installed as Plymouth University’s inaugural Chancellor.

The Lord Jonathan Kestenbaum, Chief Operating Officer of RIT Capital Partners plc, one of Britain’s most respected companies, formally accepted the role at a special ceremony in the Roland Levinsky Building last night.

Lord Kestenbaum was presented with the University’s new regalia – a silver and gold chain linking the elements of its Coat of Arms – and then addressed an audience of several hundred people, consisting of students, staff and special guests from the city and beyond.

He said: “I am very humbled to have been chosen for the position of Chancellor, particularly because it is the first time the University has initiated this office. I don’t take it lightly. I think people who step into a role for the first time have a particular responsibility of meeting the expectations of those who’ve made the decision.

“So I’m very aware of that responsibility and the confidence that has been shown in me and I will do everything possible to tell the story of this great University, to as wide an audience as I can possibly reach.”

As Chancellor, Lord Kestenbaum’s ambassadorial role will see him play an important part in supporting the University’s mission to transform lives and grow knowledge through education and research.

The role is an historic and prestigious one in the university context, and dates back to medieval times. In parts of Europe, the Chancellor continues to be the most senior figure in the university, but in the UK they act as champions, ambassadors and advocates as appropriate, offering advice and articulating, supporting and exemplifying the university’s mission and values.

Professor Wendy Purcell, Vice-Chancellor, paid tribute to Lord Kestenbaum in her Vote of Thanks at the ceremony, and said it was a defining moment for the University.

“Through his own professional and personal achievements and endeavours, Lord Jonathan Kestenbaum embodies all of the values we hold dear in this University,” Professor Purcell said. “He is a role model for all; one who inspires people from all backgrounds, young and old and we look forward to a long and fruitful friendship and partnership.

“This is a landmark event in the history of Plymouth University and, in our 21st year as a university, and our 151st as an educational institution, one that gives us a sense of ‘coming of age’.”

Lord Kestenbaum’s installation cements a relationship that has developed over recent years since the award of an Honorary Doctorate of Technology in September 2010. Since then, he has become increasingly involved with the institution, and recently played an important role in the University’s Care Leavers programme, and hosted an event at the House of Lords for alumni and supporters.

Born in Japan and brought up in London, Lord Kestenbaum took degrees from LSE and Cambridge followed by an MBA from Cass Business School. He also graduated from the Cabinet Office Top Management Programme and the Strategic Agility Programme at Harvard.
Before becoming active in business, he started his career in education, building an international training programme for young educators. He has since held significant positions in both the public and private sectors. These have included high profile Chief Executive roles at the Office of the Chief Rabbi, and then at the Portland Trust. He served for five years as Chief Executive of NESTA (The National Endowment for Science, Technology & the Arts), where he highlighted the importance of innovation to economic growth and was an advocate for UK technology start-ups.

Lord Kestenbaum has also served in a number of non-executive roles. These include being on the Board of the Design Council and Enterprise Insight, as Commissioner of the Manchester Independent Economic Review, and Chairman of the City of Manchester Science Review. He is Adjunct Professor of Business at Imperial College, served on the Board of the Royal Shakespeare Company and Governing Body of the Technology Strategy Board. He speaks in The House of Lords on policies concerning innovation, economic growth and a range of other matters.