Our world class faculty are passionately committed to improving the practice of management. Many of the team have extensive senior management experience and are actively engaged in consultancy and business-relevant research, as well as being closely in touch with the evolving needs of business and government.

The School Executive

Here at Cranfield, the School Executive work closely with the Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Dean of Cranfield School of Management Professor David Oglethorpe, ensuring that the University operates to the highest standards possible. The team includes senior academic and support managers with diverse skill sets, ranging from academic expertise to extensive, hands-on business experience.

Find out more about the team and their roles and responsibilities below:

Professor David Oglethorpe   Professor David Oglethorpe
Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Dean of Cranfield School of Management

Joe Nellis   Professor Joe Nellis CBE
Professor of Global Economy and Deputy Dean
David Denyer   Professor David Denyer 
Professor of Leadership and Organisational Change
Strategic Business Director


  Professor Michael Bourlakis
Director of Research for Cranfield School of Management
Director of the Centre for Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Neil Wilson
  Neil Wilson
Director of Finance and Operations

  Mark Threlfall
Director, Cranfield Executive Development

  Professor Emma Parry
Professor of Human Resource Management
Group Head (Changing World of Work)

  Professor Catarina Figueira
Professor of Applied Economics and Policy
Group Head (Economics and Banking)
Director of Education


  Professor Vasilis Theoharakis
Professor of Strategic Marketing
Director of the Centre for Strategic Marketing and Sales


  Professor Stephanie Hussels
Director of the Bettany Centre for Entrepreneurship

Sarah Hatcher
  Sarah Hatcher
Commercial Director

  Graham Bell
Director of Digital Education