Professor Peter Mathieson — currently president and vice-chancellor of the University of Hong Kong — has been appointed as the next principal and vice-chancellor of the University of Edinburgh.

He will succeed Timothy O’Shea who announced last year he would step down in September 2017 after 15 years in the post.

Before taking up the post in Hong Kong, Mathieson was Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Bristol for six years.

Mathieson’s background is in medical research and teaching, specialising in renal medicine,

He holds a first class honours degree in medicine from the University of London and a PhD from the University of Cambridge, where he became Director of Studies for Clinical Medicine at Christ’s College.

“I am absolutely delighted to be joining the University of Edinburgh as its next principal and vice-chancellor,” said Mathieson.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at the University of Hong Kong and I now look forward to leading the University of Edinburgh forward into its next chapter.

“Like Hong Kong, Edinburgh is a truly global institution with a great reputation for excellence in teaching and research.

“Working together with students, staff and supporters, I am confident we can build on that reputation in the future – during what are exciting and challenging times in the world of Higher Education.”

Mathieson was appointed after an international search.

The chair of the recruitment panel Anne Richards, vice-convener of the Edinburgh University Court, said: “We saw a number of candidates of a very high calibre for this post and are extremely pleased to have recruited Professor Mathieson as Edinburgh’s next principal and vice-chancellor.

“He has a wealth of experience at a senior level in higher education and we’re particularly pleased to have attracted a candidate from a highly prestigious institution such as the University of Hong Kong.

“He has a very strong legacy on which to build and we have every confidence that he is the person to lead the University of Edinburgh into an exciting new era.”