A FORMER director of a global chemical company has been appointed chairman of the governors at a North-East university.

Sandy Anderson is a former ICI director who managed the company's Teesside operations from 1989 to 1994, before becoming its global director of engineering.

He went on to become ICI's senior vice president of technology.

The 60-year-old coal miner's son got to know the University of Teesside as chairman of the European Process Industries Competitiveness Centre, which the university set up with industrial partners in 1995. He joined the university's board of governors in 1998.

Mr Anderson, who lives in Darlington, said: "It is a very exciting time to be taking over from John Hackney as chairman.

"The university has been more successful than many people could ever have imagined and it is unrecognisable from the place it was 12 years ago when Derek Fraser was appointed as vice-chancellor.

"Now under a new vice-chancellor, Professor Graham Henderson, I am confident we can build on the strengths that Professor Fraser developed."

He said: "Teesside has a lot going for it, and most importantly, it knows where it is going. It has a first-rate management team, accomplished academic leadership and excellent staff.

"Critically, it is financially sound, which is essential as higher education moves into an even more competitive environment and adjusts to new funding arrangements for student fees."