Crisis-hit Dundee University’s interim finance director has quit – just eight days after he started the role.
The institution confirmed Chris Reilly’s shock departure after just over a week in the key post.
It means Dundee University is now hunting for its fourth finance chief in less than a year as it tries to recover from a cash crisis.
Last month the university said Mr Reilly had been appointed to his senior job for an initial period of 18 months.
University bosses said he joined with a “wealth of experience” in a range of organisations.
He replaced outgoing interim finance chief Helen Simpson, who served in the role for seven months before her own exit.
It is understood Ms Simpson, who gained the confidence of government, had originally been appointed for six months.
In early October 2024, her predecessor Peter Fotheringham quit shortly before the scale of the university’s huge financial black hole was made public.
Newly appointed interim university principal Professor Nigel Seaton wrote to staff confirming Mr Reilly’s had left.
“We are moving quickly to appoint a new interim director of finance who will take us through the next steps of the University Recovery Plan for submission to the Scottish Funding Council,” he wrote.
Insiders were scathing about the state of the university following the latest dramatic development.
“Chaos reigns,” one said.
Another told The Courier: “It really does nothing to help our confidence that [the finance director] arrived, took one look at the books and walked out of the door.
“The principal was meant to provide stability, when will that come?”
Prof Seaton was sailing around the Mediterranean when he got the call asking if he would take over.
It followed former acting chief Shane O’Neill’s abrupt departure last week.
Mr O’Neill quit minutes after a devastating report into management’s handling of the financial crisis was published.
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