Chris Travis is stepping down as chief executive of Scotland’s Colleges with immediate effect after what The Herald understands was a disagreement with the board.

Mr Travis was appointed in October last year with responsibility for ensuring the success of a merger between the Association of Scotland’s Colleges, the Scottish Further Education Unit, Scotland’s Colleges International and the Colleges Open Learning Exchange Group.

Previously chief executive of Enterprise North East Trust in Aberdeen, Mr Travis was seen as an ideal candidate to bring all four organisations under the banner of Scotland’s Colleges.

During his tenure the merger was seen to be a success, but once it was completed Mr Travis’s lack of experience in the education sector was increasingly seen as a problem by the board.

Christina Potter, chair of the board, said: “With the merger now completed, the board and Chris agree that this is an appropriate time for him to move on and we wish him every success in the future.”

Meanwhile, in a separate development, Strathclyde University has appointed two senior members of staff to help drive forward plans to become an internationally leading technological university.

Professor David Gani, director of research and innovation at the Scottish Funding Council, has been appointed deputy principal for external affairs, while Professor Philip Winn, vice-principal of learning and teaching at St Andrews University, will join Strathclyde as deputy principal for strategy.