Lancaster University Management School appoints new MBA Director

Lancaster University Management School (LUMS) has appointed Chris Saunders, former MBA student and teaching fellow, as its new MBA Director.

Chris replaces Oliver Westall who has retired after 40 years service at Lancaster University. Chris previously directed Executive Education programmes for Lancaster’s corporate and non-profit clients. He was Lancaster’s Deputy MBA Director between 2003 and 2005. As Director of the MBA programme at LUMS, Chris will be responsible for ensuring that the Lancaster MBA continues to be one of the leading MBA programmes in the world.

Having graduated with a Lancaster MBA in 1999 Chris joined the Lancaster faculty and was responsible for building the Lancaster MBA brand and setting up MBA consultancy projects. Chris studied part-time for an MPhil in Critical Management at LUMS and became a Teaching Fellow in the Management Development Division. Chris was instrumental in developing the teaching of Business Ethics and Sustainability across undergraduate, postgraduate, MBA and executive development programmes at LUMS.

Commenting on his appointment, Chris Saunders says: “It’s a privilege to be asked to do this job; it’s like coming full circle from my MBA to becoming MBA Director. I was initially attracted to LUMS to study my MBA as I found the approach more reflective and critical than other business schools. It’s a fantastic opportunity to develop a programme that has given me so much.”

Professor Sue Cox, Dean of Lancaster University Management School says “It’s a pleasure to welcome Chris as director of the MBA. Chris is a highly-esteemed and valued member of the management school and I am delighted with his appointment. The Lancaster MBA is ranked in the world's top 30 and I am confident Chris will build upon and strengthen our position as we enter a new decade.”