AMHERST -- Dec.8, 2010: University of Massachusetts Board of Trustees Chairman Robert J. Manning today stepped down as the leader of the 22-person UMass governance board, saying it would be beneficial for the University to have new leadership as it enters a period of transition.
"We are embarking on a transition phase that is significant for the University," Manning, the Chairman and CEO of MFS Investment Management and a University of Massachusetts Lowell graduate, said at the end of today's Trustees meeting.
"My term ends at the end of this academic year, and I cannot sign up for another five years, so I'm here to tell you all today that I have decided to step down as Chairman and let the Governor appoint someone new who can move the organization into its next phase," Manning said.
Manning, who has served as Chairman of the University of Massachusetts Board of Trustees for three years, said of his tenure: "It's been a remarkable experience for me."
Manning said he was stepping down from the chairmanship and from the Board of Trustees effective immediately.
University of Massachusetts President Jack M. Wilson praised Manning and his leadership, saying: "Rob Manning is a person who has succeeded at the highest levels in all that he has taken on, whether that is in business, here at the University, or in life. Rob will always be known for his selfless dedication to the University, as an active alumnus, as a major donor and for his service on the Board of Trustees. He will be missed."
Contact: Robert P. Connolly, 617-548-0238