The University of Dundee has appointed a new principal and vice-chancellor, nine months after his predecessor resigned amid a rent dispute and bullying allegations.

Professor Iain Gillespie, who is currently pro-vice-chancellor, research and enterprise at the University of Leicester, will take up the Dundee post in January next year.

His predecessor Professor Andrew Atherton stood down after ten months in the role when allegations emerged he had not paid rent for the luxury university accomodation he was living in.

It was later confirmed by the university that Atherton was under investigation due to a number of bullying complaints from members of staff.

Now, Edinburgh-born academic Prof Gillespie will take the role, which reportedly comes with a £250,000 annual payslip as well as entitlement to £48,000 a year in pension contributions.

Gillespie was previously director of science and innovation at the Natural Environment Research Council and worked for 10 years at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.

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He worked for more than a decade in UK central government, with science-based roles in the Cabinet Office and other departments.

Ronnie Bowie, chair of Court, the University of Dundee's governing body, said Gillespie would bring "strong leadership and vision".

He thanked the interim principal and vice-chancellor Professor David Maguire for leading the university with "a quiet, confident assurance".

Maguire will continue in post until the end of the year.

Gillespie said: "Dundee is an incredible university at the heart of an incredible city.

"Its students and staff lead the world in so much and show us what a truly great university, firmly anchored in its community, can achieve."

He added: "With the Covid pandemic, and all of its repercussions on our economy and society, we have never needed our universities to lead the creation of opportunity more than we do right now.

"Dundee is hungry to meet the challenges we face and to deliver on our current and future needs."