You couldn’t make this stuff up…..
The Times (UK) reports A university principal failed to mention a business relationship with his newly-appointed deputy, an inquiry has found.
Ferdinand von Prondzynski, the head of Robert Gordon University (RGU) in Aberdeen, did not declare that he and Gordon McConnell were co-directors of a firm that owned a £12 million castle in Ireland.
An inquiry found that they had breached the university’s conflict of interest policy but that it was a “genuine omission or oversight” with no “malicious motive”. However, the issue was branded “disappointing” last night by the University and College Union Scotland, as it warned of the vital need for the “highest levels of openness and transparency at the top”.
Professor von Prondzynski, 64, a lawyer, legal academic and public commentator, said the matter was a cause of “deep regret”.
It was revealed in May that an inquiry had been launched after a whistleblower had highlighted the business connection between Professor von Prondzynski and his vice-principal, who took on his role at RGU in January. He was previously professor of practice in entrepreneurship at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, in Saudi Arabia.
A panel made up of three RGU governors and one external member looked over documents relating to the appointment and conducted interviews before reporting to David Strachan, the RGU vice-chairman. It was concluded that neither men had declared during the recruitment process that they were co-directors of Knockdrin Estates Ltd, a company that owned the von Prondzynski family estate in Ireland.
Professor von Prondzynski had declared in his 2017 annual declaration of interest form that he was a director of Knockdrin Estates, but did not mention the business link to Professor McConnell or make any declaration in relation to Francmine Ltd, an Isle of Man-registered company that is a shareholder of Knockdrin Estates and of which he is also a director. Professor McConnell did not say on his declaration of interest form, which was signed by Professor von Prondzynski, that he had been a director of Knockdrin Estates since 2006.
RGU said: “Professor von Prondzynski and Professor McConnell acknowledged their error to the investigation panel and apologised for their failure to declare the information.”
Source: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/university-chief-did-not-report-12m-castle-link-wv0gt3qnz
