CBJ — Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario must once again begin an executive search process to find a new president after it was announced incoming president Wendy Cukier would no longer be joining the school for the new year beginning next week.

In a statement released earlier this week, Brock University board of trustees chair John Suk said the board and Cukier had “arrived at a mutual decision to not proceed with her appointment” as Brock’s president and vice-chancellor. No further reason was given for the sudden departure.

Cukier was originally selected for the job after a year-long search and the vetting of many potential candidates.  She was to have been the first female president of the school in its history, which dates back to 1964.

Brock board of trustees vice-chair Gary Comerson said he could not elaborate on Cukier’s departure for confidentiality reasons, calling it a “personnel issue.”

Brock’s acting president Brian Hutchings will stay on for the time being while the school begins a new search for a president. No timetable has been given for when the position will be filled.

Cukier was most recently a vice-president at Ryerson University until her appointment at Brock was announced last December.

Cukier is expected to return to the Toronto school as a faculty member in the Ted Rogers School of Management.

@CanBizJournal