3 Named to High-Level Posts With UC System

The University of California, reeling from controversy in recent months over a conflict-of-interest case and compensation practices involving top executives, on Friday announced appointments to three high-level posts.

Leading the list was Wyatt R. Hume, 61, who was named provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. He had served as the No. 2 official of the 10-campus university system on an acting basis since November.

Hume, a longtime UC official who served as an executive vice chancellor and dentistry school dean at UCLA, replaces M.R.C. Greenwood as provost. Greenwood resigned from the position in the fall after it was disclosed that she was a business partner with a biology professor, Lynda Goff, whom Greenwood had helped hire for a high-ranking UC headquarters job.

A university investigation concluded in December that Greenwood, who was put on paid leave and retained in a faculty position at UC Davis, had violated conflict-of-interest rules in the Goff hiring.

Greenwood’s resignation, however, failed to dampen criticism of the UC administration. The system came under fire again when it was disclosed that UC President Robert C. Dynes granted Greenwood, after she resigned, a year’s leave with more than $300,000 in pay.

In addition, an audit last month -- one of several recent investigations into UC’s compensation practices -- found that before the conflict-of-interest issue came to light, Dynes had approved a $125,000 housing allowance for Greenwood without informing the regents.

UC, this time around, provided extensive details of the new provost’s pay package. Hume, born and educated in Australia, will receive an annual base salary of $362,500 -- a 23% raise over his current pay. In addition, his benefits package will include a relocation allowance of $73,750.

Friday’s other appointments are not tied to UC’s pay and perks controversy. In one move, the UC Board of Regents named Marie N. Berggren as its new chief investment officer and vice president for investments. She replaces David H. Russ, who stepped down last July.

The regents also named Jeffrey A. Blair acting general counsel for the governing board and acting vice president for legal affairs for the office of the president. Blair will remain in the role until a permanent replacement is hired for James E. Holst, who announced in October that he would leave this month.