University of Bristol’s new Business School gets inaugural Dean
Professor Veronica Hope Hailey is a global business school leader with a strong interest in research and consulting and will start her new role in January.
She comes to Bristol following a distinguished career at the University of Bath where she was Professor and Dean of the School of Management and University Vice-President for seven years until 2020.
Under her leadership the University of Bath’s School of Management grew in both size and academic quality.
At the end of her tenure, its MSc in Management ranked 15th in the world and the School ranked seventh in the United Kingdom’s 2021 Research Excellence Framework.
The new University of Bristol Business School plays a key part in the University’s Vision and Strategy to 2030.
Building on the outstanding work in the University’s Schools of Management and Accounting and Finance, it allows the University to bring together cutting-edge research, education and innovation that make a difference to the challenges faced by local, national and global businesses and the public sector.
The new School will also draw on the wider expertise of the whole university in entrepreneurship, data sciences, AI and quantum technologies.
Professor Hope Hailey said: “I feel very privileged to lead the new Business School within a university of such excellence like Bristol. It’s incredibly exciting to be given the opportunity to build and develop something that complements the University’s deep strengths in AI, digital, engineering and science as well as entrepreneurship across all sectors. I am very much looking forward to starting this new role in January.”
Professor Evelyn Welch, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Bristol, added: “We are delighted that Professor Hope Hailey will bring her knowledge of creating interdisciplinary programmes and research as well as her deep understanding of the Business School student and staff experience to the University of Bristol. She and I will be working closely together with colleagues to develop a distinctive approach to 21st century business research, education and innovation.”
Professor Simon Tormey, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Law and Interim Head of the Business School, said: “I know colleagues will be thrilled to welcome Professor Hope Hailey as our inaugural Dean of the new School. She comes with a wealth of experience which will be vital in formulating a distinctive and exciting vision for the Business School which speaks to the strengths of the University, the city and the region. Business research and education is one of the most exciting and fast paced sectors of high education globally, and we’re really looking forward to positioning ourselves strongly under Professor Hope Hailey’s leadership to take advantage of this interest whilst maintaining and building on the excellence for which Bristol is renowned.”