.

Installation of the Chancellor

The installation of a University Chancellor is a rare occasion, and Sir John Sunderland becomes only the fourth Chancellor of Aston since it gained University status by Royal Charter in 1966.

Sir John Sunderland has had a distinguished career in business and industry, leading the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) as President from 2004 to 2006. 

His forty year career in Cadbury Schweppes culminated in serving as Chief Executive Officer from 1996 – 2003, before becoming Executive Chairman for five years.

Sir John currently serves as a non-executive Director on the Board of Barclays plc, and as Chairman of the Merlin Entertainments Group.
A live video stream from the Great Hall of Sir John Sunderland's installation as Chancellor of Aston University. (If you have problems viewing the stream try opening this page in Internet Explorer)

During the same ceremony, the outgoing Chancellor, Sir Michael Bett, will confer an Honorary Doctorate on Sir John Sunderland, before Sir John undertakes his first task in his new role, awarding Honorary Degrees to Dame Julia Cleverdon, the former Chief Executive of Business in the Community, John Varley who until earlier this year was Group Chief Executive of Barclays, and Sir Richard Lambert who stood down as Director-General of the Confederation of British Industry in 2011.