The University of Gloucestershire has announced the appointment of Lord Michael Bichard as its new chancellor.

Lord Bichard, who has been associated with the University for many years, succeeds Baroness Rennie Fritchie who stood down as chancellor at the end of last year, after serving the university with great distinction for more than a decade.

Lord Bichard is a long-standing resident of Gloucestershire, having served as chief executive of Gloucestershire County Council in the 1990s.

In that capacity, he was involved in the restructuring of the county's further and higher education which led to the creation of the University's predecessor organisation, the Cheltenham and Gloucester College of Higher Education.

Lord Bichard is said to have had a distinguished career, largely in the public services. As well as Gloucestershire County Council chief executive, he has served as chief executive of the Benefits Agency, permanent secretary of the Department for Education and Employment, vice-chancellor of the University of Arts, London, Chair of the Design Council, and chair of the National Audit Office.

He was made a member of the House of Lords in 2010 as a cross-bench peer.

Lord Bichard said: "I could not be more pleased to be the University's next Chancellor. It is a great honour but also a wonderful opportunity to play a part in the further development of what is already an outstanding Institution.

"I will do my best to help the University realise its ambitions and fully share its determination to be inclusive, collaborative and a pioneer in the field of sustainability.

"I hope, too, that more and more people in Gloucestershire will come to recognise what a great asset the University is to the life of the county."

Stephen Marston, vice-chancellor of the university, said: "With this depth and breadth of experience, Michael is exceptionally well fitted to champion and support the University in the role of Chancellor.

"He is deeply committed to the mission and goals of the University, and we are very much looking forward to working with him."