Michael Knight named Chief Information Security Officer at University of Manchester

The University of Manchester appointed Michael Knight as Chief Information Security Officer, and he will join the IT Services team in October 2025. He joins from NHS South East London, where he served as Chief Information Security Officer at the time of the announcement.

According to the University of Manchester newsroom, Knight will head the Information Security division in the Directorate of IT Services at the University. The newsroom says he will oversee development of the University's next security programme. According to the University, that programme is to be aligned with Manchester 2035 and to set out a vision for protecting the University's digital footprint.

At the time of the announcement, the University said, Knight led development and delivery of the region's technology resilience and cyber security strategy for health and social care at NHS South East London. Knight previously served at NHS South, Central and West as Chief Technology Officer, before joining NHS South East London, the University says. At NHS South, Central and West, Knight led delivery of information security and managed IT services, supporting more than 45,000 staff across the south of England, the newsroom says. The University said that, at the time of the announcement, Knight held the title of Chartered Healthcare Chief Information Officer and was a Fellow of the British Computer Society.