Professor Philip Nelson, EPSRC's chief executive said: "Howard Covington brings a wealth of talent and experience to The Alan Turing Institute and will help it capitalise on its strong partnership base. The Institute is a symbol of joint investment in research for the future, it will draw on the best of the best academic talent in the country, and use the power of mathematics, statistics, and computer science to analyse Big Data in many ways. I am confident that it will prosper under Howard Covington's stewardship."
The Institute will build on the UK's existing academic strengths and help position the country as a world leader in the analysis and application of Big Data and algorithm research. Its headquarters will be based at the British Library at the centre of London's Knowledge Quarter.
A joint venture between the universities of Cambridge, Edinburgh, Oxford, Warwick, UCL and EPSRC, The Alan Turing Institute will attract the best data scientists and mathematicians from the UK and across the globe to break new boundaries in how we use big data in a fast moving, competitive world.
Commenting on his appointment, Mr Covington said: "To be chosen as chair for The Alan Turing Institute is a great honour. The Institute will enhance the UK's already strong academic reputation and help keep UK plc at the forefront of developments in Big Data."
