Published: 02 Oct 2024 | Last Updated: 02 Oct 2024 14:00:06

Professor Stuart Reid CBE has announced his intention to stand down as President & Principal of the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), effect from 1st August 2025.

Under Professor Reid’s leadership, the RVC has grown its presence and reputation in the higher education sector, topping QS World Rankings by subject for four of the last five years and its Unit of Assessment in the REF 2021.

Professor Stuart Reid CBE, said: ‘

’It has been a pleasure and a privilege leading the RVC for the last 14 years. In resigning from my position, I know I will be drawing to a close the happiest and most rewarding period of my professional career. I will be very sad to leave an organisation that I love and that has changed my life. “Working with our Council, my outstanding colleagues and with a student body that is second to none, it has been an adventure as we worked together through some challenging but very successful periods in our history. There is never a good time for a change that is ultimately inevitable and juxtaposing institutional priorities and individual opportunities is almost impossible. However, whilst I will miss the RVC dreadfully, I know it is an organisation in robust health and fit to face the future.”

Baroness Young of Old Scone, Chair of RVC Council, said:

‘’We have been very fortunate in having Stuart as our President & Principal. He has led the team at the RVC to strengthen its status globally, both in teaching and research, and to build our reputation for the delivery of excellent clinical services. Our campus redevelopments are well advanced and stand us in good stead for the future. Our alumni across the globe are a credit to the university and value highly their time here. “Stuart manages with his head but leads with his heart. The RVC has been a passion for him. We will miss him greatly and wish him all success in his new and important role at the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC)."

Professor Reid will be joining the AAVMC as its new CEO, based in Washington DC. Meanwhile, the process for recruitment of his successor will commence shortly.

Notes to Editors

For media enquiries, please contact:

• Jasmin De Vivo at jasmin.devivo@plmr.co.uk or rvc@plmr.co.uk  
• Press Line: 0800 368 9520

About the RVC

• The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) is the UK's largest and longest established independent veterinary school and is a Member Institution of the University of London. 
• It is one of the few veterinary schools in the world that hold accreditations from the RCVS in the UK (with reciprocal recognition from the AVBC for Australasia, the VCI for Ireland and the SAVC for South Africa), the EAEVE in the EU, and the AVMA in the USA and Canada. 
• The RVC is ranked as the top veterinary school in the world in the QS World University Rankings by subject, 2024. 
• The RVC offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in veterinary medicine, veterinary nursing and biological sciences. 
• The RVC is a research-led institution, with 88% of its research rated as internationally excellent or world class in the Research Excellence Framework 2021. 
• The RVC provides animal owners and the veterinary profession with access to expert veterinary care and advice through its teaching hospitals and first opinion practices in London and Hertfordshire.