Christ’s College has elected a new master, Lord Simon McDonald of Salford. McDonald will take on the role at the end of August next year when the current master, Professor Jane Stapleton, reaches the end of her tenure.

A Pembroke College alumnus, McDonald studied History at Cambridge before pursuing a career in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in the eighties. He later became British Ambassador to Israel and Germany, and the Permanent Secretary at the FCO and Head of the Diplomatic Service. He was nominated as a crossbench peer in the House of Lords in 2020.

Professor Richard Mortier, President of Christ’s College and chair of the selection process, said: “We are delighted to announce Simon has accepted the role of Master-elect and we look forward to welcoming him to the College next summer to begin work with the College, to steer our community as we emerge from the COVID pandemic and look to the future.

“We place a high priority on improving access and participation in our admissions and Simon’s commitment to diversity and equality speaks for itself.”

Simon McDonald stated that he was “honoured and thrilled” to have been elected next Master of Christ’s: “College Statutes ask Fellows to vote for the person ‘best-qualified to preside over and to promote the honour and welfare of the College’. My main aim now is to prove myself worthy of that trust. I look forward to returning to Cambridge next September and to getting to know everyone at Christ’s: Fellows, staff, students and alumni.”