 He was Chancellor of UMIST, his alma mater, from 2002 until 1 October 2004, when he became one of two co-chancellors of the University of Manchester, when UMIST and the Victoria University of Manchester were merged into a new university.He was given an honorary Doctor of Science degree from Cranfield University on 7 June 2007.Leahy is an Everton Football Club supporter and is a special advisor to the club.