The University of Greater Manchester has suspended its vice-chancellor George Holmes over “serious allegations” following an investigation into alleged financial misconduct.
In a statement issued on 13 May the university – known as the University of Bolton until December – confirmed that Holmes, the institution’s provost and “another senior member of academic staff” had been suspended.
The suspensions follow allegations circulated in local media and subsequently raised in Parliament, claiming that large sums had been paid to “relatives of the university’s managers”, also referring to the involvement of a company based in Casablanca, Morocco.
Greater Manchester said that it had subsequently commissioned the audit firm PwC to investigate.
“The university was made aware of PwC’s findings following its investigation into serious allegations raised in the media and subsequently in Parliament,” said a university spokesman who stated the suspensions are a “precautionary measure and do not imply any assumption of guilt”.
“The university has taken this step to ensure a fair and transparent process,” he added, stating that “the university’s day-to-day operations continue as normal.”
An interim leadership team will be led by Greg Walker, the university’s pro vice-chancellor (academic), who had become acting vice-chancellor while the investigation is under way, the spokesman added.
The news was communicated to staff in an email from the university’s chair of governors William Morris, who said the suspensions were “a neutral step, taken to protect the integrity of the process and to allow a full and fair process to take place”.
“We understand this news may be concerning. Please be assured that the university’s core functions and academic activities will continue without disruption,” he added.
The suspension of Holmes – one of the UK’s longest-serving vice-chancellors, who has led the institution since 2006 – comes just six months after the university was given permission to change its name from the University of Bolton to the University of Greater Manchester.
The Office for Students’ decision to permit the name change was condemned by the University of Manchester, which claimed the new name was likely to confuse students, particularly international students, who might not realise the difference between the two institutions.
Despite acknowledging that there was potential for confusion, the OfS decided to allow the name change, leading to the university’s swift rebrand since December.
Holmes has previously courted controversy by defending the high pay awarded to vice-chancellors and his?decision to drive a Bentley Continental. In 2017 he told the??that vice-chancellors should not hide their wealth and he “hope[d] students use their education to get a good job and then they can have a Bentley”, adding: “Do you want to be taught by someone who is successful or a failure?”
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