ɪn tˈuː θˈaʊzənd θɹˈiː, hiː bɪkˌeɪm pˈɜːmənənt sˈɛkɹətɹi tə ðə skˈɑːɾɪʃ ɡˈʌvɚnmənt, səksˈiːdɪŋ sˌɜː mjˈʊɹ ɹˈʌsəl, hˌuː bɪkˌeɪm pɹˈɪnsɪpəl ʌvðə jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi ʌv ɡlˈæzɡoʊ.
In 2003, he became Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government, succeeding Sir Muir Russell, who became Principal of the University of Glasgow.