Former University of Exeter Chancellor Lord Myners dies age 73

Former University of Exeter Chancellor, Lord Myners, has died at the age of 73.

Paul Myners’ family released a statement on Sunday 16th January saying that he had “passed away peacefully” that morning at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.

He was appointed Chancellor at the University of Exeter in 2016, replacing Baroness Benjamin, and served in the role until the end of December 2021.

“He was a prominent figure in the life of the University and he will be greatly missed.“

Prior to this role he had an extensive career in the finance and business sectors, which included chairing the Guardian Media Group, Marks & Spencer, and the Tate Gallery. In 2008, Prime Minister Gordon Brown appointed him as Financial Services Secretary to help address the 2008 banking crisis. In the same year he was gazetted as ‘Baron Myners, of Truro in the County of Cornwall’, and elevated to the House of Lords.

Brown has led the tributes to Lord Myners, describing him as “a tower of strength, helping nationalise key banks and producing a plan to overcome the global financial crisis.”

The current Guardian Media Group chair, Neil Berkett, said: “We are saddened to hear of Paul Myners’ death. As chair, he led Guardian Media Group successfully during a period of great change in our industry.”

University of Exeter Vice-Chancellor, Professor Lisa Roberts, released a statement saying “he was a prominent figure in the life of the University and he will be greatly missed.”