Latest news with #PeterFotheringham
North Wales Chronicle
5 hours ago
- Business
- North Wales Chronicle
Ex-finance chief at crisis-hit university says he ‘could have done a lot better'
Peter Fotheringham spoke out the day after the Scottish Government stepped in and used special powers to award £40 million directly to the university – whose interim principal quit last week after a report criticised him and others. The university is currently seeking to cut up to 300 jobs as it seeks to deal with a £35 million deficit. Professor Shane O'Neill, who up until last week was the interim principal and vice-chancellor there, has previously told MSPs on Holyrood's Education Committee that the scale of the financial problems only 'crystallised' in November last year. He quit that post however after a report by former Glasgow Caledonian University principal Professor Pamela Gillies criticised senior figures at the university. Members of the university executive group (UEG), which included the 'triumvirate' of Prof O'Neill, his predecessor former principal Professor Iain Gillespie and ex-chief operating officer Dr Jim McGeorge, were found to have 'failed' to 'properly respond to the worsening situation' and disclose the looming crisis to other university officials. Dr McGeorge, appearing before the committee on Wednesday, said he was 'deeply and unreservedly sorry' for the situation at Dundee University. He spent 16 years at the university, saying he had 'championed what it does through good times and through challenging times, including some previous financial difficulties'. He added: 'Through the period covered by the report I tried to do my very best for the university, in good conscience, and on the basis of the information that was available to me. 'Where I have been found wanting or fallen short, either personally or collectively, I am deeply and unreservedly sorry for that. 'It would never have been my intention to do anything other than my very best for a university that I love and that I have served for over half my career.' However he told the committee that leading figures at the university 'did not spot early enough the fact that the university as heading towards this crisis'. He added: 'We should have done. I am hugely regretful and sorry that we did not.' Committee convener Douglas Ross insisted that Dr McGeorge holds 'a significant amount of blame' for the university's situation. The former chief operating officer however claimed he was 'equally as responsible as others' – although he said he wished decisions on cost-saving measures had been made earlier in March of last year. 'I think about that every single day at the moment and have done for some considerable period of time,' he told the committee. But he insisted: 'I am not trying to shirk blame in any shape or form, I accept my share of responsibility for what happened to the university and the position it finds itself in.' Mr Fotheringham meanwhile told the committee that the institution had 'not been in a strong financial position' for 'well over 10 years'. But asked when the situation started to give him sleepless nights, he said that only happened 'as late' as September 2024. Joe FitzPatrick, the SNP MSP for Dundee City West, told him: 'The fact that you didn't realise till September is the thing that folk who are watching – students, lecturers, staff – they will find that incredible that folk in your position have not realised how bad things were until that late. It is incredible.' Mr Fotheringham responded: 'Absolutely and that has given me sleepless nights ever since September, if I'm honest with you.' He left the university in October 2024, and is currently unemployed, telling the committee: 'I absolutely understand I could have done a lot better.' And he said he took his 'share of responsibility in terms of the current position of the university'. Mr Fotheringham added: 'The position that it now finds itself in is obviously deeply upsetting for all of us and I am very sorry for any part I played in that.' But he also insisted: 'I thought it was very clear to everybody, the whole leadership team, that we did need to reduce costs. We had those discussions in late 2023 and early 2024.' However SNP MSP George Adam accused the men of having 'tanked' the university. He said there had been a 'systematic failure at every single point' at Dundee, including 'poor financial judgment, failure to act in real time on clear warning signs' as well as 'overly optimistic budget assumptions' and 'weak internal controls'. Mr Adam described the problems as a 'perfect storm' as he told the witnesses: 'You nearly tanked the university. You nearly tanked one of the oldest universities in Scotland.' The MSP added: 'I don't understand how people like yourselves can get yourselves into that position.'
The Independent
9 hours ago
- Business
- The Independent
Ex-finance chief at crisis-hit university says he ‘could have done a lot better'
The former chief finance officer of crisis-hit Dundee University conceded to MSPs that he 'could have done a lot better'. Peter Fotheringham spoke out the day after the Scottish Government stepped in and used special powers to award £40 million directly to the university – whose interim principal quit last week after a report criticised him and others. The university is currently seeking to cut up to 300 jobs as it seeks to deal with a £35 million deficit. Professor Shane O'Neill, who up until last week was the interim principal and vice-chancellor there, has previously told MSPs on Holyrood's Education Committee that the scale of the financial problems only 'crystallised' in November last year. He quit that post however after a report by former Glasgow Caledonian University principal Professor Pamela Gillies criticised senior figures at the university. Members of the university executive group (UEG), which included the 'triumvirate' of Prof O'Neill, his predecessor former principal Professor Iain Gillespie and ex-chief operating officer Dr Jim McGeorge, were found to have 'failed' to 'properly respond to the worsening situation' and disclose the looming crisis to other university officials. Dr McGeorge, appearing before the committee on Wednesday, said he was 'deeply and unreservedly sorry' for the situation at Dundee University. He spent 16 years at the university, saying he had 'championed what it does through good times and through challenging times, including some previous financial difficulties'. He added: 'Through the period covered by the report I tried to do my very best for the university, in good conscience, and on the basis of the information that was available to me. 'Where I have been found wanting or fallen short, either personally or collectively, I am deeply and unreservedly sorry for that. 'It would never have been my intention to do anything other than my very best for a university that I love and that I have served for over half my career.' However he told the committee that leading figures at the university 'did not spot early enough the fact that the university as heading towards this crisis'. He added: 'We should have done. I am hugely regretful and sorry that we did not.' Committee convener Douglas Ross insisted that Dr McGeorge holds 'a significant amount of blame' for the university's situation. The former chief operating officer however claimed he was 'equally as responsible as others' – although he said he wished decisions on cost-saving measures had been made earlier in March of last year. 'I think about that every single day at the moment and have done for some considerable period of time,' he told the committee. But he insisted: 'I am not trying to shirk blame in any shape or form, I accept my share of responsibility for what happened to the university and the position it finds itself in.' Mr Fotheringham meanwhile told the committee that the institution had 'not been in a strong financial position' for 'well over 10 years'. But asked when the situation started to give him sleepless nights, he said that only happened 'as late' as September 2024. Joe FitzPatrick, the SNP MSP for Dundee City West, told him: 'The fact that you didn't realise till September is the thing that folk who are watching – students, lecturers, staff – they will find that incredible that folk in your position have not realised how bad things were until that late. It is incredible.' Mr Fotheringham responded: 'Absolutely and that has given me sleepless nights ever since September, if I'm honest with you.' He left the university in October 2024, and is currently unemployed, telling the committee: 'I absolutely understand I could have done a lot better.' And he said he took his 'share of responsibility in terms of the current position of the university'. Mr Fotheringham added: 'The position that it now finds itself in is obviously deeply upsetting for all of us and I am very sorry for any part I played in that.' But he also insisted: 'I thought it was very clear to everybody, the whole leadership team, that we did need to reduce costs. We had those discussions in late 2023 and early 2024.' However SNP MSP George Adam accused the men of having 'tanked' the university. He said there had been a 'systematic failure at every single point' at Dundee, including 'poor financial judgment, failure to act in real time on clear warning signs' as well as 'overly optimistic budget assumptions' and 'weak internal controls'. Mr Adam described the problems as a 'perfect storm' as he told the witnesses: 'You nearly tanked the university. You nearly tanked one of the oldest universities in Scotland.' The MSP added: 'I don't understand how people like yourselves can get yourselves into that position.'
Scotsman
10 hours ago
- Business
- Scotsman
Dundee University: 10 bombshell revelations as bosses at crisis-hit Scottish university quizzed at Parliament
Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Apologies issued by former bosses at the crisis-hit Dundee University have been branded 'pathetic', as officials were accused of being 'asleep at the wheel'. The university's former finance director Peter Fotheringham, former chief operating officer Dr Jim McGeorge and former court chair Amanda Millar were hauled in front of Holyrood's education committee on Wednesday to be grilled on how things went so badly wrong at the university. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The evidence session comes after Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth confirmed a further £40 million was being given to the university as it looks to cut hundreds of jobs to save millions. The explosive evidence session saw the trio apologise, as well as admit they should have been aware of the issues way before they were. This was the first of two days of questioning former Dundee University bosses. On Thursday, the committee will interview former principal and vice-chancellor Professor Iain Gillespie. The Scotsman looks at some of the explosive revelations from the session. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Dundee University | National World Trio 'sorry' for the finances The committee started with the three former officials apologising for their parts in the financial crisis. Dr McGeorge said: 'I tried to do my best for the university in good conscience. Where I have been found wanting, I am deeply and unreservedly sorry for that.' Mr Fotheringham added: 'The position the institution finds itself in is deeply upsetting and I am deeply sorry for any part I have played in it.' Ms Miller added: "I am and remain deeply frustrated and saddened by the pain this has undoubtedly caused.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Committee convener Douglas Ross MSP said: 'Your very best is pathetic, you are the worst offenders. What you allowed to happen was unacceptable. How is this your very best?' Dundee West MSP Joe FitzPatrick also noted the trio seemed 'unsettlingly relaxed' about what had happened. Amanda Miller, Dr Jim McGeorge and Peter Fotheringham, former bosses at Dundee University. | Scottish Parliament TV Challenges were not seen until it was too late All three former bosses admitted there were 'missed opportunities' and they did not fully understand the scope of the financial challenges until it was too late. Dr McGeorge said: 'On this occasion the financial information available to us was not as comprehensive as it could have been. We should have seen the signs in March 2024 and started making savings. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I didn't see that at the time and neither did the university's finance committee or the court, and that is a huge regret.' He also apologised for not spotting 'that we were heading towards crisis'. Mr Fotheringham said he 'thought it was very clear to everybody' as far back as 2023 the university needed to reduce costs. He said: 'In hindsight that didn't happen to the extent it should have done and that is deeply regretful.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Bosses do not recall principal's comments Mr Fotheringham said he did not remember the former principal publicly declaring the university was moving into a surplus. Mr Ross asked: 'How can the director of finance not remember the principal telling the university it was moving into a surplus position when you've just said it was clear it was not? 'Did you sit on your hands or did you not hear the principal saying that?' The former finance director said the university had not been in a strong financial position for 'well over ten years' and had not generated a surplus for a decade. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He said an improvement in student numbers in 2022/23 could have led to 'what we considered a surplus position', but stressed action needed to have been taken to achieve this. Some within the university knew how bad things were - but did not speak up The trio giving evidence suggested some within the university 'did understand the position and didn't speak up'. Mr Fotheringham suggested those in student recruitment, for example, could see the massive fall in international students and could see that targets on international recruitment were going to be massively missed. However, he said these figures were not highlighted to university chiefs. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Finance director admits he 'struggled' Mr Fotheringham said: 'I did struggle with the job at times, particularly in 2024. Former finance director of Dundee University Peter Fotheringham | Scottish Parliament TV 'My team was seriously under-resourced and I struggled to stay on top of that, and I accept that.' Dr McGeorge admitted he knew Mr Fotheringham was under-resourced, but Ms Miller said this was news to her. Mr Fotheringham later said he left his position as finance director because it was 'difficult to be in a job you don't enjoy'. He said: 'This was my first role as a finance director and I found it lonely and challenging.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Was the court chair qualified? Ms Miller was questioned on whether or not she had the skills and experience necessary to take on the role of court chair. She said yes and that she did not regret applying for the job, but pointed out she has no financial qualifications. However, she admitted she could have done more to 'build trust' with her colleagues on the university court. Former Dundee University court chair Amanda Miller. | Scottish Parliament TV Dr McGeorge said there was a tendency for university court chairs to 'be strong finance people with extremely strong business experience', but this meant most court chairs were white men. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He said new arrangements were put in place to attract a more diverse group of people, which meant the chair was 'less financially orientated'. Dr McGeorge said the lack of financial skills was made up by others in the court. Ms Miller said she was 'slightly different from the usual' type of court chair and admitted this was 'challenging' for her. She also dismissed accusations she had 'shut down questions on finances'. Mr Ross said he was 'shocked' at the accusation and suggested it was a 'major failing' on her part. 'Gross incompetence' in reporting funding breach Mr Ross suggested university bosses had been 'criminal' in not reporting a breach of a banking covenant to the Scottish Funding Council. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Mr Ross asked: 'How can two very senior individuals, one the director of finance at the centre of all financial management at the university, not know a breach is reportable to the funding council?' Dr McGeorge said: 'I'm not an expert on financial management.' Dr Jim McGeorge, former chief operating officer at Dundee University. | Scottish Parliament TV Mr Ross replied: 'You are legally bound to alert the institution to issues like that. Is this not just an appalling failure, but an almost criminal failure that you were negligent in that way?' Dr McGeorge denied the claim as he 'simply didn't know that was reportable'. Mr Ross described this as 'gross incompetence'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The finance director also said he 'regretfully' did not realise he had to report this. It was also revealed Dr McGeorge knew about the breach a month before informing the funding council, but 'genuinely didn't remember' this. Mr Ross asked: 'Why sit there and expect us to believe your mistruths?' A toxic culture Fingers were pointed at the former principal and vice-chancellor for creating a 'hostile' working environment. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Dr McGeorge said: 'I think there are issues around the culture of the former principal, which did lead to people feeling they couldn't challenge as much as they would like to do. 'It created an environment where people wanted to please and wanted to say what the principal wanted to hear rather than speaking truth to power. Privately I felt he would, in certain circumstances, listen, but I would have hesitated to do that in public.' Dr McGeorge said he took 'some responsibility for the perception' of a toxic culture. Pam Duncan-Glancy, Scottish Labour's education spokeswoman, also asked Ms Miller if the former principal 'gatekept information'. Ms Miller said: 'I have reflected a lot on this and I firmly believe the dynamics within the senior executive team impacted the delivery and effectiveness of allowing the court to assess, analyse, challenge and decide.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Ms Miller said she witnessed 'inappropriate behaviour and language' towards a female colleague, which she raised with the principal. 'Clear enticement' to pay off Wendy Alexander Baroness Wendy Alexander is a former vice-principal at Dundee University. Last week it was revealed she was offered numerous incentives to leave the institution after clashing with the former principal. Dr McGeorge said Baroness Alexander 'raised sensible questions on finance' and realised months before the others there was a massive financial problem. Baroness Wendy Alexander, former vice-principal at Dundee University, pictured in 2008. | Danny Lawson/Press Association Mr FitzPatrick asked if the university tried to make her leave by offering her 'lavish overseas trips and a lavish pay-off'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Dr McGeorge said that was 'not an appropriate term' and said he had been asked to open discussions with Baroness Alexander about 'her departure on mutually agreed terms'. He denied she had been asked to leave because the principal did not like being challenged, but acknowledged there were 'tensions' between the two on the future direction of the university. He admitted it had been suggested Baroness Alexander go on a trip to Canada and the US. Mr Ross said this was 'clearly an enticement for her to leave' as the trip would be unlikely to benefit the university given she was leaving and held different views on the future of the university. No plan to hit financial targets North East MSP Michael Marra, who used to work at the university, raised questions over the institution's goal to reach £500m in turnover. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Mr Fotheringham said: 'This was an aspirational goal as something in an environment with positive headwinds was potentially achievable and would give the university a level of critical mass to break out of the institution permanently breaking even.' He said reaching this goal would allow the university to become 'masters of our own destiny', but said bosses soon 'realised that was not realistic'.
Powys County Times
10 hours ago
- Business
- Powys County Times
Ex-finance chief at crisis-hit university says he ‘could have done a lot better'
The former chief finance officer of crisis-hit Dundee University conceded to MSPs that he 'could have done a lot better'. Peter Fotheringham spoke out the day after the Scottish Government stepped in and used special powers to award £40 million directly to the university – whose interim principal quit last week after a report criticised him and others. The university is currently seeking to cut up to 300 jobs as it seeks to deal with a £35 million deficit. Professor Shane O'Neill, who up until last week was the interim principal and vice-chancellor there, has previously told MSPs on Holyrood's Education Committee that the scale of the financial problems only 'crystallised' in November last year. He quit that post however after a report by former Glasgow Caledonian University principal Professor Pamela Gillies criticised senior figures at the university. Members of the university executive group (UEG), which included the 'triumvirate' of Prof O'Neill, his predecessor former principal Professor Iain Gillespie and ex-chief operating officer Dr Jim McGeorge, were found to have 'failed' to 'properly respond to the worsening situation' and disclose the looming crisis to other university officials. Dr McGeorge, appearing before the committee on Wednesday, said he was 'deeply and unreservedly sorry' for the situation at Dundee University. He spent 16 years at the university, saying he had 'championed what it does through good times and through challenging times, including some previous financial difficulties'. He added: 'Through the period covered by the report I tried to do my very best for the university, in good conscience, and on the basis of the information that was available to me. 'Where I have been found wanting or fallen short, either personally or collectively, I am deeply and unreservedly sorry for that. 'It would never have been my intention to do anything other than my very best for a university that I love and that I have served for over half my career.' However he told the committee that leading figures at the university 'did not spot early enough the fact that the university as heading towards this crisis'. He added: 'We should have done. I am hugely regretful and sorry that we did not.' Committee convener Douglas Ross insisted that Dr McGeorge holds 'a significant amount of blame' for the university's situation. The former chief operating officer however claimed he was 'equally as responsible as others' – although he said he wished decisions on cost-saving measures had been made earlier in March of last year. 'I think about that every single day at the moment and have done for some considerable period of time,' he told the committee. But he insisted: 'I am not trying to shirk blame in any shape or form, I accept my share of responsibility for what happened to the university and the position it finds itself in.' Mr Fotheringham meanwhile told the committee that the institution had 'not been in a strong financial position' for 'well over 10 years'. But asked when the situation started to give him sleepless nights, he said that only happened 'as late' as September 2024. Joe FitzPatrick, the SNP MSP for Dundee City West, told him: 'The fact that you didn't realise till September is the thing that folk who are watching – students, lecturers, staff – they will find that incredible that folk in your position have not realised how bad things were until that late. It is incredible.' Mr Fotheringham responded: 'Absolutely and that has given me sleepless nights ever since September, if I'm honest with you.' He left the university in October 2024, and is currently unemployed, telling the committee: 'I absolutely understand I could have done a lot better.' And he said he took his 'share of responsibility in terms of the current position of the university'. Mr Fotheringham added: 'The position that it now finds itself in is obviously deeply upsetting for all of us and I am very sorry for any part I played in that.' But he also insisted: 'I thought it was very clear to everybody, the whole leadership team, that we did need to reduce costs. We had those discussions in late 2023 and early 2024.' However SNP MSP George Adam accused the men of having 'tanked' the university. He said there had been a 'systematic failure at every single point' at Dundee, including 'poor financial judgment, failure to act in real time on clear warning signs' as well as 'overly optimistic budget assumptions' and 'weak internal controls'. Mr Adam described the problems as a 'perfect storm' as he told the witnesses: 'You nearly tanked the university. You nearly tanked one of the oldest universities in Scotland.'
Rhyl Journal
10 hours ago
- Business
- Rhyl Journal
Ex-finance chief at crisis-hit university says he ‘could have done a lot better'
Peter Fotheringham spoke out the day after the Scottish Government stepped in and used special powers to award £40 million directly to the university – whose interim principal quit last week after a report criticised him and others. The university is currently seeking to cut up to 300 jobs as it seeks to deal with a £35 million deficit. Professor Shane O'Neill, who up until last week was the interim principal and vice-chancellor there, has previously told MSPs on Holyrood's Education Committee that the scale of the financial problems only 'crystallised' in November last year. He quit that post however after a report by former Glasgow Caledonian University principal Professor Pamela Gillies criticised senior figures at the university. Members of the university executive group (UEG), which included the 'triumvirate' of Prof O'Neill, his predecessor former principal Professor Iain Gillespie and ex-chief operating officer Dr Jim McGeorge, were found to have 'failed' to 'properly respond to the worsening situation' and disclose the looming crisis to other university officials. Dr McGeorge, appearing before the committee on Wednesday, said he was 'deeply and unreservedly sorry' for the situation at Dundee University. He spent 16 years at the university, saying he had 'championed what it does through good times and through challenging times, including some previous financial difficulties'. He added: 'Through the period covered by the report I tried to do my very best for the university, in good conscience, and on the basis of the information that was available to me. 'Where I have been found wanting or fallen short, either personally or collectively, I am deeply and unreservedly sorry for that. 'It would never have been my intention to do anything other than my very best for a university that I love and that I have served for over half my career.' However he told the committee that leading figures at the university 'did not spot early enough the fact that the university as heading towards this crisis'. He added: 'We should have done. I am hugely regretful and sorry that we did not.' Committee convener Douglas Ross insisted that Dr McGeorge holds 'a significant amount of blame' for the university's situation. The former chief operating officer however claimed he was 'equally as responsible as others' – although he said he wished decisions on cost-saving measures had been made earlier in March of last year. 'I think about that every single day at the moment and have done for some considerable period of time,' he told the committee. But he insisted: 'I am not trying to shirk blame in any shape or form, I accept my share of responsibility for what happened to the university and the position it finds itself in.' Mr Fotheringham meanwhile told the committee that the institution had 'not been in a strong financial position' for 'well over 10 years'. But asked when the situation started to give him sleepless nights, he said that only happened 'as late' as September 2024. Joe FitzPatrick, the SNP MSP for Dundee City West, told him: 'The fact that you didn't realise till September is the thing that folk who are watching – students, lecturers, staff – they will find that incredible that folk in your position have not realised how bad things were until that late. It is incredible.' Mr Fotheringham responded: 'Absolutely and that has given me sleepless nights ever since September, if I'm honest with you.' He left the university in October 2024, and is currently unemployed, telling the committee: 'I absolutely understand I could have done a lot better.' And he said he took his 'share of responsibility in terms of the current position of the university'. Mr Fotheringham added: 'The position that it now finds itself in is obviously deeply upsetting for all of us and I am very sorry for any part I played in that.' But he also insisted: 'I thought it was very clear to everybody, the whole leadership team, that we did need to reduce costs. We had those discussions in late 2023 and early 2024.' However SNP MSP George Adam accused the men of having 'tanked' the university. He said there had been a 'systematic failure at every single point' at Dundee, including 'poor financial judgment, failure to act in real time on clear warning signs' as well as 'overly optimistic budget assumptions' and 'weak internal controls'. Mr Adam described the problems as a 'perfect storm' as he told the witnesses: 'You nearly tanked the university. You nearly tanked one of the oldest universities in Scotland.' The MSP added: 'I don't understand how people like yourselves can get yourselves into that position.'
