King's Business School Advisory Council

King’s Business School benefits from the advice and guidance of our Advisory Council. The Advisory Council is comprised of experienced external stakeholders from the business, education and public sectors. Our student community is also represented. The Advisory Council provides advice on our future strategy and plays a vital role in developing King’s Business School’s connectivity to practitioners, businesses and future partners. The Council meets twice a year. The current members are:

Mr Rory Tapner FKC (Chair of King's Business School Advisory Council)

Chairman, Sanctum Wealth Management

Mr Tapner is currently Chairman of Sanctum Wealth Management in India and GB Snowsport. In addition he chairs a number of smaller entrepreneurial companies operating across a wide spectrum including MedTech, Health Foods, and Engineering.  He is also the Chairman of Council of the University of Buckingham.  He is the former Chief Executive Officer of the Coutts Group. Prior to that role, at UBS he was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of UBS Asia Pacific and Chairman of Global Investment Banking, sitting on their Group Executive Board.  Mr Tapner is a King's alumnus (Law, 1982) and was the Deputy Chairman and Honorary Treasurer of the King's College Council from 2007 to 2016. Mr Tapner is the Deputy Chairman of King’s College’s Fundraising Campaign Board. 

Ms Susan Gilchrist (Vice-Chair of King's Business School Advisory Council)

Chair, Global Clients

Ms Gilchrist is Chair, Global Clients at Brunswick Group, and was formerly Group Chief Executive of Brunswick Group (2012-2018). She counsels clients across the globe on major crises, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate reputation. Ms Gilchrist has also held the roles of US Managing Partner and Senior Partner in the UK. Prior to joining Brunswick, Ms Gilchrist was a journalist on The Times business section and worked as a management consultant at Bain & Company.  In January 2016 Ms Gilchrist was made Chair of Southbank Centre, the UK's largest arts centre, and previously sat on the Board of Trustees of The Old Vic Theatre. Ms Gilchrist is a King’s alumna (BA English; 1987),a Fellow, Deputy Chair of King’s College Business School Advisory Council and a World questions KING'S answers Campaign Board Member. 

Professor Stephen Bach

Executive Dean, King’s Business School

Professor Stephen Bach is the Dean of King’s Business School and Professor of Employment Relations at King’s College London. Stephen has held a series of leadership roles in the School, including overseeing the School's submission to the 2014 Research Excellence Framework. He previously worked at Warwick University Business School and started his career on the NHS graduate management training scheme. His research is centred on comparative Human Resource Management and has been funded by the ESRC, EU, Home Office, Leverhulme Foundation, NHS and the ILO. His research has been published in leading journals including Human Relations, Work, Employment and Society, Public Administration and the British Journal of Industrial Relations. 

Mr Mike Abbott

Executive Chairman, Columbia Care

Mr. Michael Abbott is the Executive Chairman of Columbia Care, the largest pharmaceutical manufacturer of cannabis related medicines in the United States. Michael started his financial career at Swiss Bank Corporation/SBC O’Connor and later worked at Goldman Sachs. He since launched and ran two hedge funds as well as managed a multi-billion dollar fund of funds. Michael was also CIO of the endowment of Cornell University. Prior to his career in finance, Michael earned a Law Degree at King’s College, London.  Michael served on the London Police Force in the mid 1980’s, was the UK national police rifle champion, and was a member of the British Rifle team. 

Mr Michael Birshan

Senior Partner, McKinsey

Mr Birshan is a Senior Partner of McKinsey & Company, based in London. He leads McKinsey’s Strategy & Corporate Finance Practice across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa and co-leads the practice globally. Previously based in San Francisco and Mumbai, Mr Birshan has served clients across the private, public, and social sectors in over 20 countries on six continents. He also writes extensively on strategy, finance, and leadership and his work has been published and cited in Harvard Business Review, Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, McKinsey, and other publications. Before joining McKinsey, Mr Birshan was a member of the British National Debating Team and worked as an aide to a US Congressman and a Canadian Member of Parliament. He holds an MA in Philosophy, Politics & Economics from the University of Oxford, graduating with double first-class honours, and an MBA with High Distinction from Harvard Business School, graduating as a Baker Scholar. Passionate about education, Mr Birshan serves as a governor of the Royal College of Art, one of the world’s leading art and design universities, and has been a commissioner of the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission and a trustee of the World Schools Debating Championships. He is a fellow of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce.

 Baroness Bull CBE

Vice President & Vice-Principal (London), King's College London

Deborah Bull is Vice President & Vice-Principal (London) and the Senior Advisory Fellow for Culture at King’s College London. She also sits as a Crossbench Peer in the House of Lords. As Vice President & Vice-Principal (London), she provides leadership for the university’s London strategy – one of five priorities within Vision 2029. The strategy sets out shared ambitions to draw London into King’s and King’s into London, maximising the potential of the university’s location in the heart of the capital.As Senior Advisory Fellow for Culture, she provides high level leadership for the university’s cultural strategy, supporting King’s research, education and service ambitions through mutually beneficial partnerships with artists and cultural organisations in London and beyond. Deborah joined King's College London in 2012 following a long and successful career in the arts, first as performer and then as creative leader and cultural commentator. She is the author of four books, and regularly writes and speaks across the media on issues relevant to her work at King’s. Deborah has served on the Boards of South Bank Centre, Arts Council England and the BBC and is currently a member of the governing body of the Arts & Humanities Research Council. She has received honorary doctorates from Derby University, Sheffield Hallam University, the Open University, Kent University and Lincoln University and was awarded a CBE for her contribution to the arts in 1998.

Ms Cynthia Carroll

Ms Carroll was most recently the chairperson of Vedanta Resources Holding. Previously, she was a non-executive director of BP, and was a director of Sara Lee Corporation. From 2007 - 2012, she was the chief executive officer of Anglo American PLC, the world’s fourth largest mining company. She chaired Anglo American’s Executive Committee and sat on the Safety and Sustainable Development Committee. In 1989 she worked for Alcan and was president and chief executive officer of the Primary Metal Group. Under Ms Carroll’s leadership, the Primary Metal Group became Alcan’s biggest and most profitable division. Before joining Alcan, she worked for Amoco, which is now part of British Petroleum, for eight years as a petroleum geologist in gas and oil exploration. She holds a Master of Science degree in Geology from the University of Kansas and a Masters of Business Administration from Harvard University. In 2012, she was elected a fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering.

Professor Marie-Laure Djelic

Dean of the School of Management and Innovation, Sciences Po

Marie-Laure Djelic, PhD Harvard 1996, Doctor Honoris Causa of the University of Stockholm, has also been since September 2016 University Professor at the Sciences Po Centre of Organisational Sociology. She was previously Professor at the ESSEC and Director of the Centre of Research on Capitalism, Globalisation and Governance. Marie-Laure Djelic’s research work focuses on the contemporary transformations of capitalism, the international dissemination of ideas and practices, the spreading of globalisation and the dynamics of regulation and governance in a globalised economic environment, the social responsibility of companies and their political role in this context. Her work is published in top international academic reviews and university presses. At ESSEC, Marie-Laure Djelic occupied a variety of administrative and managerial positions – Dean of Professors (2003-2007), Director of the Management Department (2008-2012), Associate Dean in charge of the PhD (2012-2015). Marie-Laure Djelic was Guest Professor at the University of Stanford, the University of Uppsala, the University of Stockholm and the Stockholm School of Economics in Sweden, at the Bocconi University in Italy and at the Institute of Higher International Studies and Development in Geneva, Switzerland. She also sits on many scientific councils or university evaluation boards in many countries in Europe and North America.

Ms Shelly-Ann Gajadhar

King's Business School PhD student 

Shelly-Ann is a PhD candidate and attorney at law with three years of experience in criminal and civil law. She completed her Masters in International Business and Emerging Markets with Distinction at the University of Edinburgh. Her Master’s thesis titled FDI and Technology Transfer in Trinidad and Tobago’s Construction Industry was recently published in Social and Economic Studies Journal. At King’s she is a recipient of a Doctoral Scholarship and her research is centred on university-based innovations in London’s life sciences ecosystem. In her spare time, she sits on various College committees, providing a student perspective to the discussion and holds the post of School Governor for an under 16 Charity School in London. She also works with the Careers and Employability arm of the College as an Application Advisor and, recently founded a career and research consultancy; dedicated to advancing the academic and professional opportunities of millennials

Ms Harriet Green OBE

OBE, CEO & Chairman, IBM Asia Pacific

Ms Green is the Head of IBM Asia Pac and was formerly Vice-President and General Manager, Internet of Things, Commerce and Education at IBM. She was hired to IBM in September 2015 to lead the company’s emergence into this growing technology market. Ms Green was Chief Executive Officer of Thomas Cook from July 2012 to November 2014, during which time she grew the business from a market worth of £148 million to more than £2 billion. Her former positions include Chief Executive Officer of Premier Farnell and various international roles for Arrow Electronics. She is a non-executive director of BAE Systems; a member of the UK Prime Minister's Business Advisory Group, and a trustee of the Peace Works Foundation, which supports creative and innovative efforts to foster understanding, tolerance and co-existence in regions of conflict. Ms Green is on the advisory board for Catalyst, a non-profit focused on progress for women through workplace inclusion. Ms Green has been recognised as UK Business leader of the Year and Veuve Clicquot Business Woman of the Year for 2014 and in 2010 received an OBE for services to industry. Ms Green attended the University of London through Queen Mary College, with her classes organised by King's (Medieval History, 1983).

Dr Aron Harilela

CEO & Chairman, Harilela Hotels

Dr Harilela is the Chairman and CEO of Harilela Hotels Ltd and a director of the Harilela Group of companies. The Group was founded by his father, Hari, in 1959 and runs businesses ranging from hotel and real estate investment to import and export trading. Dr Harilela holds a number of civic engagements in Hong Kong including the General Committee of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, the Healthcare Working Reform Group and Honorary Secretary for the Business and Professional Federation. He is the inaugural donor to the business school, having pledged £2.5 million in part to create the Padma and Hari Harilela Hall in honour of his parents. 

Mr Warwick Hunt

Managing Partner and Chief Operating Officer, PwC 

Warwick holds a Bachelor of Accountancy (with honours) from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg in addition to FCA (Australia and New Zealand), ACA (ICAEW) and CA (SA) designations. Born in South Africa, he migrated to New Zealand where he joined PwC and was elected as the Territory Senior Partner for two consecutive terms. He then led the PwC Middle East Region for 4 years as Territory Senior Partner before transferring to the PwC UK firm in 2013 where he is now on the UK Executive Board as Managing Partner and Chief Operating Officer.  

Mr Luke Johnson

Chairman, Risk Capital Partners LLP

Luke Johnson is the Chairman of private equity house Risk Capital Partners. In 1993 Mr Johnson took control of PizzaExpress with partners and subsequently became Chairman, growing the business from 12 restaurants to over 250. Later he launched the Strada restaurant concept. He co-founded the UK’s largest chain of dental surgeries, Integrated Dental Holdings, in 1996. He founded private equity firm Risk Capital Partners in 2001 and is the incumbent Chairman. Mr Johnson currently part owns and chairs Patisserie Valerie, Gail’s Artisan Bakery chain, Neilson Holidays and various other hospitality and leisure businesses. In October 2013, Mr Johnson co-founded and launched the Centre for Entrepreneurs, a non-profit think-tank aiming to promote entrepreneurship to the government, media, private sector and the general public. Mr Johnson is currently Chairman of: The Institute of Cancer Research; Stage One, a charity in support of new producers of quality commercial theatre; the Bishopsgate Institute; StartUp Britain, a national campaign in support of entrepreneurship; and Career Colleges. His past roles include: Chairman of Channel 4 Television Corporation (2004-2010); Governor of The University of the Arts London (2000-2006); and Chairman of the Royal Society of Arts (2009-2012). He writes a weekly business column for The Sunday Times.

Mr Asad Jumabhoy

CEO, The Scotts Group

Mr Jumabhoy started his career in 1986 at his family’s Ascott International, a pioneer in the serviced apartment industry.  When the family sold the business at the turn of the century, he moved on to introduce the first private sector VAT refund business for tourist shopping in Singapore. He developed a deep knowledge for product digitization in VAT refunds; mobile technology and data analytics in consumer loyalty & rewards; and in currency conversion for the credit card payments space. As a significant shareholder, he built Global Blue from a fledgling operator to a 40 country network in VAT refunding, introducing dynamic currency conversion as a business for credit card acquirers internationally. After exiting to private equity Silverlake in 2012, he took a strategic stake and was Vice Chairman at the Fintrax Group/Premier Tax-Free, successfully exiting again to private equity after just 26 months in November 2015. Mr Jumabhoy is currently involved in property development and investment as well as developing new and disruptive technologies in the loyalty & rewards industry. He continues in his passion as an active polo player as well as serving on the board of the Yellow Ribbon Fund, a Singaporean charity re-integrating ex-offenders into society; a Trustee of Occidental College in Los Angeles, as well as the Advisory Board of MIT Sloan.

Mr Christopher Macleod

Customer Director, Transport for London

Chris joined Transport for London (TfL) in 2007 and is responsible for a diverse portfolio of marketing and customer programmes. His work ranges from promoting buses and tubes to improving the customer experience of all TfL services. In 2012 he oversaw the marketing of transport in London to help deliver a successful Olympic and Paralympic Games. At the end of 2017 he became Customer Director, adding to his existing marketing responsibilities. He has helped TfL become a more customer focused organisation, establishing its ‘Every Journey matters’ promise. During his time it has also won every major marketing and creative award including Campaign magazine’s Advertiser of the Year, Cannes Gold Lions and Marketing Society and IPA Effectiveness awards. An ‘Ad Exec’ by training, Chris has a degree from Newcastle Business School, a Masters degree from the London School of Economics and is a regular on the Bakerloo Underground line.

Dr David Morgan AO

Chairman, J.C. Flowers & Co Europe and Asia Pacific 

Dr Morgan is Chairman for J.C. Flowers & Co Europe and Asia Pacific, a leading financial services investor and a member of the firm’s Management Committee. He is the former Chief Executive Officer of Australian bank Westpac, which he helped grow to become one of Australia’s largest banks and a top 20 bank worldwide by market capitalisation, and is also former Head of the Australian Bankers Association. Dr Morgan became an independent director of BHP Billiton plc after leaving Westpac in 2008. He has extensive experience in the financial sector, having worked in the International Monetary Fund in Washington DC in the 1970s and the Australian Federal Treasury in the 1980s where he headed all major areas before being appointed Senior Deputy Secretary. Dr Morgan serves on the Supervisory Boards of HSH Nordbank AG and NIBC Holding N.V. and the Boards of Directors of Castle Trust and OneSavings Bank Plc. He also serves as a Senior Advisor to Shinsei Bank, Limited. 

Ms Amanda Pritchard

Chief Executive, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

Ms Pritchard was appointed as Chief Executive and Accountable Officer of Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in January 2016, having been Acting Chief Executive since October 2015. Prior to that she served as Chief Operating Officer at the Trust for three and a half years. Ms Pritchard joined Guy's and St Thomas' from Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust where she spent six years as Deputy Chief Executive having previously held a variety of senior strategic and operational management roles there, including Director of Strategy and Service Development. She also spent 10 months leading the health team in the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit in 2006, and has also held a number of other NHS management positions. 

Dr Andrew Summers CMG

Chairman, Design Partners

Dr Summers is Chairman of Design Partners and Chairman of Cala Social Capital.  He was previously Chief Executive of the UK Design Council and Managing Director of food companies Sharwoods and RHM Foods. Until recently, he was Chairman of Companies House, of the Chartered Management Institute Companions and of the Westminster Business School Advisory Board. He has also been a board member of UK Trade & Investment, Small Business Service, Royal Society of Arts and the Conservatoire for Dance & Drama and Chairman of strategy consultancy Brandsmiths.  Dr Summers is an independent member of the King’s College London Council and is Chairman of the Audit, Risk & Compliance Committee. He was awarded the CMG for his contribution to international business and design. 

Mr Michael Taylor

Senior Vice President, AON Hewitt

Mr. Taylor is Senior Vice President at Aon, plc where he heads up Healthcare Delivery System Transformation. He provides business solutions to Fortune 100 companies and large healthcare providers both in North America and globally.  Prior to this, he was Senior Vice President at Optum Health, a business of United Health Group.  He also held several senior management positions with the professional services firm, Willis Towers Watson including leadership of their Global Health Practice.  Prior to his consulting career, Mr. Taylor held several senior management positions with large health systems in New York and California.  He currently serves on the Dean’s Advisory Board of Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH).  He also teaches at BUSPH and Wharton Business School.   He has published numerous articles and book chapters on healthcare delivery.  Mr. Taylor holds a MA in healthcare administration (1976) and a MS in Biochemistry (1974) from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, and a B.Sc. in Molecular Biology and Biophysics from King’s (1970).

Baron David Willetts

The Rt Hon. the Lord Willetts, Conservative Party politician, life peer and academic.

Rt Hon David Willetts MP, former Minister for Universities and Science, is a Visiting Professor at King’s College London, Executive Chair of the Resolution Foundation, Governor of the Ditchley Foundation, Chair of the British Science Association and a member of the Council of the Institute for Fiscal Studies. He is an Honorary Fellow of Nuffield College Oxford. Lord Willetts began his career in Parliament as the MP for Havant in 1992. He served as Paymaster General and then in the Shadow Cabinet in a range of roles, including Shadow Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Shadow Secretary for Education and Skills, and Shadow Secretary for Innovation, Universities and Skills. He has also worked at HM Treasury and in the Number 10 Policy Unit. Lord Willetts has written widely on economic and social policy. In 2010 he published a book, ‘The Pinch: How the baby boomers took their children’s future – and why they should give it back’. More recently he published ‘Eight Great Technologies’ for Policy Exchange (January 2013) and ‘Robbins Revisited: Bigger and Better Higher Education for The Social Market Foundation (October 2013). He has also recently published ‘A University Education’, which came out in November 2017.

Mr Darren Wallis

Chief Operating Officer

Darren is Chief Operating Officer of King’s Business School and has supported its transition to becoming the ninth King’s faculty. Darren has undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in political science from LSE and has worked in higher education for almost all his career. Darren’s professional services experience encompasses leadership roles in academic departments, faculties and in institutional central services in a number of universities and covering the breadth of a university’s business. These roles include being the Director of Strategic Programme Delivery at the University of Warwick and the Chief Operating Officer at Warwick Business School.