After nearly 20 years as Director of the Centre for Business Research (CBR), Professor Alan Hughes is standing down from this position, but will continue to play a major role in the Centre as Director of the UK~IRC, as a University Director of Research and as Director of the University’s ESRC Social Science Impact Acceleration Programme.
Alan will be succeeded by Professor Simon Deakin, who has been an Assistant Director of the Centre since its foundation. Simon will continue to have responsibility for the Centre’s corporate governance research programme.
Upon taking up his new appointment, Professor Deakin commented:
Alan’s achievement in leading for the CBR over two decades and bringing it to a position of international prominence in social science research and policy analysis is unique. It is humbling and daunting, but also a great privilege, to succeed him, and to be given the opportunity to pilot the Centre through the next stage in its evolution.
Professor Alan Hughes commented: “Simon’s research has made a pivotal contribution to the development of the international reputation of the CBR. He has also since its foundation played a fundamental role in its overall growth and development. His academic distinction and institutional commitment augur well for the future of the CBR.”
Kate Barker, Chair of the CBR’s Advisory Board, added: “Alan’s leadership of the CBR has enabled the Centre to make an immense contribution to economic thinking and policymaking in the UK and indeed elsewhere. We all owe him an immense debt. The CBR is fortunate to have Simon as such a strong and able successor ready to continue this important work.”