News

New leader for Durham Business School

(3 April 2008)

Durham University has appointed a new leader for its Business School.

Professor Rob Dixon will drive forward an agenda to maintain and enhance its position as one of Europe and the UK’s leading business schools. Professor Dixon is a leading academic in the fields of finance and accounting with a track record of senior management roles. He takes the helm as Dean this month (April). The appointment follows an international search for candidates, led by external recruitment consultants. Professor Chris Higgins, Vice-Chancellor of Durham University, said Professor Dixon’s appointment signalled a ‘great opportunity’ for the Business School to excel in its next phase of development. “With significant input from Business School staff and a panel of high profile business leaders, we interviewed senior figures from some of the world’s major business schools for the role of Dean. We are enthusiastic that Professor Dixon is the very best person for the role. He has a clear understanding of the School’s strengths and a shared vision for its future. “His appointment provides an opportunity to consolidate in our core areas of strength and to drive forward an ambitious development strategy to maintain and enhance the School's international position. There is real excellence within the school, bringing many benefits to our students and the business community, regionally and nationally confirmed by the recent outstanding AMBA re-accreditation.” Previously Professor Dixon, who was born and bred in Newcastle upon Tyne, was Deputy Dean of the Business School and played a key part in an interim management team overseeing the school in recent months. Professor Dixon said: “This role presents an exciting and challenging opportunity to take the Business School to the next stage of development, which will include building on our research and business activities and ensuring every student has the very best possible academic and learning experience.” Durham Business School is ranked as ninth in the UK and 23rd in Europe in the influential Financial Times European Business Schools Rankings. The School provides a suite of highly regarded qualifications at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, including a range of management development programmes to business leaders globally. This year the School established a partnership with Chartered Financial Analysts for its suite of seven MScs – more than any other business school. The CFA Charter is becoming the accepted benchmark for technical excellence in financial markets. The FT has also ranked the School’s Distance Learning MBA as one of the top 40 in the world. The School boasts at network of international links with many regional, national and international businesses and organisations such as HBOS Corporate, the Government of Gibraltar and Formica, providing support and advice through top quality training, academic research and knowledge transfer. The University has also recently invested in the creation of a new Management Development Centre and the ground-breaking Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning. Its graduates hold positions of prominence throughout the world, such as Killick Datta, Chairman, Global Brand Marketing, which includes the Diesel Footwear brand, and Hector Montado, Chief Executive, Government of Gibraltar. In the UK, they include Finlay Scott, Chief Executive of the General Medical Council, John Cuthbert, Managing Director, Northumbrian Water plc, and Grahame Maxwell, Chief Constable of North Yorkshire Police. Professor Dixon’s appointment has been welcomed by the business community. Robert Gillespie, Vice Chairman of UBS Investment Bank and a member of the selection panel said: "It is clear Professor Dixon has done an outstanding job to date and enjoys the support of the excellent academic staff, students and commercial partners of the Business School. “After an extensive and rigorous process, Professor Dixon was the best candidate with both the academic credentials necessary to meet our needs and the vision, drive and commitment to lead the school to even greater success in the future. “It is particularly pleasing that we have been able to appoint an existing member of the Business School to this role, which is of critical importance to the University as a whole, thereby showing the value we place on continuity and demonstrating the outstanding calibre of the academic staff of the school.” Margaret Fay, Chairman of the Regional Development Agency, One NorthEast, said: “We welcome the news of Professor Dixon’s appointment and look forward to working with him and Durham Business School to further develop the School’s valuable role within the region’s business community.”

• More info: Durham Business School