Incoming Crown Resorts chairman Ziggy Switkowski is to step down from his role as chancellor of RMIT, saying he will not be able to juggle two huge positions.

The news comes just days after an open letter to the university called for Dr Switkowski’s resignation. The National Tertiary Education Union, which published the letter, argued it was “incompatible” for Dr Switkowski to simultaneously be the head of governance at a university and a gambling giant.