New executive director will lead on Jisc’s library, discovery and open access service portfolio

From 1 August, Liam will lead on a portfolio of services containing licensing, library, content, discovery and open access as well as Jisc’s provision of the UK Data Service.  

Liam said:

“I’m honoured to be taking on the leadership of the digital resources directorate at this exciting and important time.

The range of new services we are developing, such as library hub services and open research hub as well as the integration of our Jisc Collections and Chest licensing services will deliver essential infrastructure on behalf of the sector, providing efficiencies and enhancing service and performance.”  

Liam will be responsible for launching the open research hub, a new service that offers a one-stop-shop for managing, preserving and sharing digital research data. He will also lead the continuing transformation of Jisc’s suite of library support services bringing together its discovery, cataloguing, acquisition, subscription management and analytic services. 

Liam takes this role as Keith Cole, the outgoing executive director of digital resources, plans to retire towards the end of 2020. In the coming months, Liam and Keith will work together on open science developments, while Keith will primarily focus on improvements to business processes and efficiencies. From 1 August, Keith’s title will be executive director – business process improvement.  
 
Formerly director of licensing at Jisc, Liam has gained significant experience in Jisc Collections, particularly negotiated agreements, which covered approximately £126million of expenditure in 2017.  

Liam has worked at Jisc since 2003, where he has been involved in negotiations for a wide variety of agreements in higher and further education as well as working with the NHS, museums and public libraries in the UK and overseas.  

He has overseen the evolution of Jisc Collections’ approach to open access, in particular how its negotiations can best support the sector to achieve its aims around pure gold, hybrid and green open access.