The President and Rector of Imperial College London is the highest academic official of Imperial College London. The Rector is the chief executive, elected by the Council of the college and Chairman of the Senate. The position is currently held by Alice Gast after the resignation of Keith O'Nions in August 2014.
In 2012 the responsibilities were separated into two posts, the President & Rector whose duty is to "promote Imperial's position as a global university" and Provost who will "be responsible for advancing and delivering the College's core academic mission - education, research and translation." Alice Gast now serves as President & Rector, while James Stirling became the first Provost of Imperial College London in August 2013.
The Rector's residence is a large house on Queen's Gate, at the southwest corner of the college's campus in South Kensington, London.