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Executive Vice President Peter French to retire in June 2009
by Jillian Wagner
News | 4/1/08
Posted online at 2:51 AM EST on 4/1/08
/ Last updated at 8:14 PM EST on 4/1/08
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Peter French, the primary supervisor of the University's finances, announced that he will retire in June 2009 due to personal health concerns after working at Brandeis for 11 years.
"I have been mulling over this decision for the past six months, so it is not something that just came up," French said. "There have been many considerations, but the overall consideration is that I've had some issues with my health, and my health has been unpredictable; my wife, my children and I all just felt that it was appropriate to stop working full-time," he said.
French will continue to function as executive vice president until his retirement, but will also aid University President Jehuda Reinharz and the Trustee Committee in recruiting his replacement.
"It will probably take about four to six months to get somebody on board. I will advise that person and help them get acclimated. In essence, that person will work as my deputy until my retirement, at which time he or she will take over," French said.
According to the Brandeis Web site, "The Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer oversees Brandeis' complete financial and administrative support operations." Responsibilities include budgeting, campus operations (facilities, public safety, and campus services) and information technology services management, the Web site says.
"The Executive Vice President also serves as the principal liaison with the Budget and Finance, Investment, Facilities and Audit Committees of the Board of Trustees," the Web site says.
An e-mail sent to faculty and staff last Thursday announced French's retirement: "Over the past decade, French has helped to rebuild this campus, bringing at least 11 major new building and renewal projects on line for the benefit of the entire Brandeis community," Reinharz wrote.
French cited the construction of the Shapiro Campus Center as the project of which he is most proud. "It really was the first major construction project that was done in the administration of President Reinharz," French said. He said it was the beginning of the building projects completed over the past 10 years and "set the framework for much of what we've done."
"I have been mulling over this decision for the past six months, so it is not something that just came up," French said. "There have been many considerations, but the overall consideration is that I've had some issues with my health, and my health has been unpredictable; my wife, my children and I all just felt that it was appropriate to stop working full-time," he said.
French will continue to function as executive vice president until his retirement, but will also aid University President Jehuda Reinharz and the Trustee Committee in recruiting his replacement.
"It will probably take about four to six months to get somebody on board. I will advise that person and help them get acclimated. In essence, that person will work as my deputy until my retirement, at which time he or she will take over," French said.
According to the Brandeis Web site, "The Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer oversees Brandeis' complete financial and administrative support operations." Responsibilities include budgeting, campus operations (facilities, public safety, and campus services) and information technology services management, the Web site says.
"The Executive Vice President also serves as the principal liaison with the Budget and Finance, Investment, Facilities and Audit Committees of the Board of Trustees," the Web site says.
An e-mail sent to faculty and staff last Thursday announced French's retirement: "Over the past decade, French has helped to rebuild this campus, bringing at least 11 major new building and renewal projects on line for the benefit of the entire Brandeis community," Reinharz wrote.
French cited the construction of the Shapiro Campus Center as the project of which he is most proud. "It really was the first major construction project that was done in the administration of President Reinharz," French said. He said it was the beginning of the building projects completed over the past 10 years and "set the framework for much of what we've done."
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