Wendy Thomson has resigned as vice-chancellor of the University of London, 11 months after she was suspended from the post.

Thomson said that she would be taking the federal institution to an employment tribunal, alleging constructive dismissal and seeking to “challenge the unfair and detrimental treatment I received after I made whistleblowing disclosures”.

She had led the 17-member university since 2019 but was suspended in May 2025 pending an independent investigation, reportedly relating to allegations of bullying and poor leadership. The university said that investigation had now concluded.

In a statement shared with university staff, Thomson confirmed that she had tendered her resignation with immediate effect on 28 April.

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“I have repeatedly raised my concerns about governance and imprudent financial management at the university and set these out in two public interest disclosures. The university has failed to investigate these properly and transparently. It is now clear that the only route I have is to resign and to challenge the university’s action through independent legal scrutiny,” Thomson writes.

In the letter, she claims that the “unfounded, anonymous and leaked allegations” against her emerged only after she “raised concerns about the management of the university’s finances and the behaviour of some of the key persons involved”.

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“It was my duty to raise my serious concerns about the use of public money and endangering of the university’s finances regarding the issues and behaviours about which I raised concerns,” adds Thomson, an expert in public service reform who has held a series of senior roles in central and local government, as well as a professorship in social policy at McGill University.

“These should have been properly investigated and I encourage the Office for Students, as the university’s regulator, to now thoroughly investigate these matters.

“It will be a bleak day for public service leaders in this country if they shrink from challenging their staff to avoid the consequences I have faced.”

In a statement, the University of London said that it had suspended Thomson “pending an investigation into allegations raised about her” and that that process had now “concluded”.

“The board stands behind the thoroughness of the process and is confident that it was carried out in accordance with the principles of good governance and was fair to all parties. As such, we strongly disagree with Professor Thomson’s characterisation of the university in her letter,” a spokesperson said. The university said that it was unable to release further details of its investigation.

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Member universities have raised concerns about the federal institution’s future, questioning whether it delivered on the imperative for greater collaboration and coordination amid a sector-wide funding crisis, and agreeing that the leadership hiatus was hampering efforts to address this.

Thomson’s suspension came at a time of significant leadership upheaval at the university, with Mark Lowcock resigning as board chair the week before, although he continues to serve as a trustee. Two other trustees, Paul Boursican and Andrew Ratcliffe, stepped down in the same month.

Kavita Reddi, the former vice-chair, who reportedly chaired the board meeting that voted to suspend Thomson, was appointed chair in October.

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Another former chair, ex-MI6 head Richard Dearlove, who led the board for a decade to 2024, issued a statement in support of Thomson, describing her as an “outstanding vice-chancellor”. The board had previously extended Thomson’s contract to 2028, Dearlove said.

“I am saddened and shocked at the unjust way with which Wendy has been treated since I left the board in July 2024,” Dearlove said. “It absolutely does not accord with the sound and well-documented record of her performance during my tenure as chairman of the UoL board of trustees.

“There is no reasonable explanation that can be served on her for such a fundamental and sudden change in the assessment of her leadership and management of the UoL.”

The University of London has been led by deputy vice-chancellor David Latchman since last May.

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“The board looks forward to continuing to support Professor Latchman and his senior team as they progress the university’s agenda,” the spokesperson added. “The board will now look to appoint an interim vice-chancellor in accordance with its statutes and ordinances.”

chris.havergal@timeshighereducation.com