THE founder of the market research company MORI has been installed as Kent University’s new chancellor.

Professor Sir Robert Worcester said he was greatly honoured and pleased following the ceremony in Canterbury Cathedral.

He said: "I have lived in Kent for more than 35 years and the heart of my acceptance speech was that I wanted to give something back.

"Britain generally and Kent specifically have given a lot to me and in the next seven years I hope very much to repay what this county has given to me by service to this university."

Sir Robert said he intended to focus on six areas during his chancellorship – developing the estate, working with the students and academics, working with the administrative staff and supporting the vice-chancellor, building on the University’s endowments and representing it in the wider community in Kent, nationally and internationally.

Sir Robert, who founded MORI (Market & Opinion Research International), will take up his new role on August 1, succeeding Sir Crispin Tickell who retires after 10 years as the University’s Chancellor.

Sir Robert is a Deputy Lieutenant of Kent, a KCC appointed Kent Ambassador and a non-executive director of the Kent Messenger Group. He lives at Allington Castle, near Maidstone.