Chris Grange is leaving ANU. The well-respected chief operating officer will leave in September. This is a loss for the university. Mr Grange arrived from the University of Wollongong in 2013 and quickly got on top of a big restructure, involving contentious cuts. He did a solid job consulting and explaining and it set the tone for his tenure, efficient and expansively ambitious for ANU’s future.

“Chris has been an outstanding COO. Tough when he needs to be, but always good-humoured, focused on outcomes and respectful of the cherished academic culture of ANU. I wish to thank Chris for the incredible contribution he has made to our university,”  Vice Chancellor Brian Schmidt told staff yesterday.

This is the second big leadership loss at ANU in six months, with DVC Marnie Hughes Warrington announcing in October she was returning to being a history professor.