A broadly composed selection committee unanimously nominated Goldstein as the preferred candidate. The Central Works Council and the Central Student Council have given positive advice on the appointment.

The Supervisory Board is very pleased with Goldstein's arrival at the UvA. 'Richard Goldstein has great expertise and substantive knowledge. As a former accountant of the UvA, he is also familiar with the institution,' says Supervisory Board chair Jolande Sap. 'He is a solid, curious and sensitive manager, who is open to different perspectives. His style fits in with the decentralised management model of the UvA. The finances, business operations and real estate development will be in safe hands with him.'

‘I am really looking forward to working with Richard Goldstein,’ adds UvA Executive Board president Edith Hooge. ‘He brings extensive experience in complex organisations in the public sector, particularly higher education institutions and specifically the UvA. This gives him a good overview of the university, while at the same time bringing an outside perspective. In addition, he is not only a financially skilled manager, he is also strongly socially involved.’

Richard Goldstein: ‘I am honoured by this appointment at the UvA, a truly-Amsterdam top knowledge institution. As part of the Executive Board with Edith Hooge and Peter-Paul Verbeek, I want to contribute to the UvA’s future impact. I look forward to working together will all the students and staff.’

Goldstein succeeds Jan Lintsen, who will become chief financial officer of the Netherlands Aerospace Centre. In the period between Lintsen's departure and Goldstein's arrival, president of the board Edith Hooge and rector magnificus Peter-Paul Verbeek will take over the finance and business management portfolio.