Professor Leo Murray

Background

Leo has an MA in Languages from Glasgow University and has studied at the Universities of Paris and Rennes in France. He began his career as a Graduate Trainee at BP in London working in Crude Oil Operations, Tanker Programming and Procurement. In 1968, he joined the Courtaulds Group, where he held supplies, production control and marketing positions, becoming Divisional European Marketing and Sales Manager based in Germany from 1973. In 1975 he joined US management consultants A T Kearney Ltd, to work on projects principally involving international strategy, acquisition and marketing. Within four years he progressed from consultant through Manager to Principal. In 1979 he joined Rothmans International plc as Managing Director of their subsidiary companies Murray Sons & Co and Schimmelpenninck Cigar Company in Holland. He then became Director within Rothmans International Tobacco Limited with particular responsibility for export marketing and sales, manufacturing and subsidiary/associated companies. He was appointed Professor and Director of the Cranfield School of Management in October 1986 and Pro-Vice Chancellor of Cranfield University from 1992 to 1995. Since retirement in 2003, he has held a number of Non-Executive Chair and Director positions in the public and private sectors including Chairmanship of the National Centre for Languages. He is involved with a number of SMEs as shareholder or mentor and works as a consultant with a number of companies and Business Schools internationally.