The outgoing chief executive of The Law Society is to become head of a renowned agricultural college in Yorkshire, her county of origin. 

In April Catherine Dixon will become chief executive of Askham Bryan College near York, which has nearly 4,000 students at sites across northern England. 

Dixon resigned from the Society last week, expressing frustration at what she saw as the ruling council’s reluctance to embrace governance reforms.

In a statement issued by the college, Dixon said: ‘I am delighted to be joining as chief executive at such an important time for the college. I am looking forward to meeting with the staff and students and hearing about the fantastic range of courses and activities on offer. I do hope that I can use my experience to assist the college during this important phase of its development. I am also very excited to return to the north and particularly, Yorkshire, my home county.’

Askham Bryan College’s main campus is in York, with other sites ranging from Newcastle to Wakefield and Newton Rigg College in Cumbria. The College offers full- and part-time further and higher education courses in land-based skills such as agriculture, horticulture, animal management, equine and forestry.

Anthony Alton, chairman of the college’s board of governors said: ‘We are delighted that Catherine will be joining us. She has extensive knowledge and experience across a broad range of organisations which will be of huge benefit as we begin a new era in the college’s development. We look forward to welcoming her to this important role.’

Before joining the Law Society two years ago Dixon was chief executive of the NHS Litigation Authority. Her other roles have included general counsel and company secretary at the NSPCC, commercial director at BUPA Care Services, director of the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, and solicitor at Eversheds.