AN AVIATION expert has been appointed the new Vice Chancellor of Liverpool John Moores University.

University officials last night insisted they have recruited the right candidate to take it forward describing Professor Nigel Weatherill, currently second in command at the University of Birmingham, as a “truly inspirational” leader.

Professor Weatherill will join the university in September.

He will take over from retiring Vice Chancellor, Professor Michael Brown who will step down after a 11-year tenure.

Prof Weatherill will arrive in Liverpool having served as the pro-vice chancellor and head of college of engineering and physical sciences of the University of Birmingham where he has been based since 2008.

The University of Southampton graduate has done extensive research into the science behind and design and manufacture of aircraft – loosely known as aeronautics.

He read maths and aeronautics at university and is a fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society.

Universities have been hit with swingeing government funding cuts and LJMU has reacted by taking 20% out of its £120m undergraduate budget with £9m being cut in 2010 and the same this year.

But while recognising there are “enormous challenges ahead” Prof Weatherill said he was full of excitement to take to the helm of LJMU – a university he labelled “one to watch”.

He also praised the university’s emphasis on preparing students for the jobs market – including the World of Work programme.