Stefan Allesch-Taylor CBE appointed Entrepreneurship Institute's first Professor of Practice at King's College London
Stefan Allesch-Taylor CBE, financier, serial entrepreneur, company chairman, philanthropist and broadcaster, has been appointed Professor of the Practice of Entrepreneurship for the Entrepreneurship Institute, King’s College London.
In this new position, Stefan will play an active role within the university, delivering masterclasses and helping King’s entrepreneurs bring successful business ideas to market.
The creation of the position recognises the growing trend for entrepreneurship in the UK with a record 80 companies now being set up every hour. Through the Professor of Practice position, King’s aims to help meet the desire of King’s students, staff and alumni to blend business theory and practice.
Stefan was appointed for his extensive background and experience, his international reputation and his commitment to enhancing entrepreneurship at King’s. Over the past 25 years, he has co-founded or invested in more than 40 companies across 15 countries in sectors as varied as property, industrial, medical, leisure, technology, sports, retail, banking and finance.
In his philanthropic work, Stefan is the Chairman and co-founder of a number of award winning national and international charities tackling the issues of; improving education, homelessness, opportunity poverty, water poverty and hunger. These charities principally operate in the United Kingdom and in Sub-Saharan Africa and to date have helped over 1.5 million of the world’s poorest people. They include Pump Aid, Team Up, the Afri-Can charity and the Central London Rough Sleepers Committee.
Stefan was appointed a Commander of the Order of The British Empire (‘CBE’) in the 2014 Queen’s New Year’s Honours List for services to philanthropy and charity in the UK and Africa.
Following his appointment, Stefan Allesch-Taylor CBE said: "I am honoured to be appointed the Entrepreneurship Institute’s first Professor of the Practice of Entrepreneurship. King’s is a world-class university with a large and diverse range of innovation and entrepreneurial talent. I look forward to sharing my knowledge and expertise to help support young talent and to helping King’s fulfil its mission to work ‘in the service of society’.”
Julie Devonshire OBE, Director, Entrepreneurship Institute said: “Bringing expert practitioners, businesses and investors together with research staff and students is vital to creating a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem at King’s and supporting the next generation of leaders. We are delighted to have Stefan on board and we look forward to working with him.”
Chris Mottershead, Senior Vice President Quality, Strategy and Innovation, King’s College London said: “Professor of the Practice of Entrepreneurship is a position that reflects the vital role practitioners play in enhancing our teaching and research. The world is changing rapidly and to ensure that we remain world-class we need to utilise knowledge and expertise from as many different sectors of society as possible. Stefan brings with him a wealth of business and philanthropic experience and skills and is a major asset to our King’s community.”
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. The Entrepreneurship Institute is King’s College London’s dedicated entrepreneurship hub. Focusing on the development of leadership, the Institute provides support and opportunities for King’s students, staff and alumni of up to seven years, throughout their careers and start-up journeys. www.kcl.ac.uk/entrepreneurship-institute.
2. King’s College London is a research-based university in central London. It is ranked in the top 25 universities in the world and in the top seven UK universities for research earnings. It has 27,600 students (including nearly 10,500 postgraduates) and 6,800 employees.
3. Contact Amy Lothian, Communications Manager, Entrepreneurship Institute amy.lothian@kcl.ac.uk