Western University's Board of Governors has named a successor to outgoing Chair Chirag Shah.
In a news release issued Friday, the university announced that Hanny Hassan will assume the role of chair on January 1. Hassan joined the board in 2009 and has been vice-chair since 2014.
According to the release, Hassan "has a distinguished record of community service and is a frequent speaker and lecturer to schools, universities, church groups, service organizations and the business community. His publicly-oriented energies and commitments have been focused on interfaith and multicultural issues."
He was named to the Order of Canada in 2011.
Hassan has also served as co-chair of the National Muslim Christian Liaison Committee and as chair of the Judicial Appointments Advisory Committee of Ontario.
It was also announced Friday that Paul Jenkins was appointed vice-chair. The former senior deputy governor of the Bank of Canada has been on the board since 2010.
Shah announced in early November that he would not seek another term as chair. He was thrust into the spotlight when the 2014 public salary disclosure revealed Western President Amit Chakma was paid nearly $1-million that year, more than double his regular salary. A provision in Chakma's contract allowed him to collect a year’s salary in lieu of a paid year off at the end of his first five year term.
It caused outrage within the Western community, spurring online petitions, protests and an attempted vote of non-confidence in the president.
An independent review of the salary agreement conducted by Justice Stephen Goudge criticized Shah for approving Chakma’s extra pay without informing the rest of the board.