01/04/2020

Here is your quarterly summary of some of the successes of Cranfield alumni:

  • Ahmad Saade (MSc Management 2019) has written an article about the politics of pandemics and Covid-19, published in Yerepouni Daily News (Lebanon).
  • Patrick Fennell (Exec MSc Air Transport Management 2014) Chief Operating Officer of xfly, discusses crisis management regarding Covid-19.
  • Tom Chatfield (MSc Air Transport Management 2004) has been named as the new CEO at Camber Aviation. Further coverage in Wings Magazine.
  • Stefanos Tsamousis (MSc in Software Techniques for Computer Aided Engineering 1991) CEO of Roche Farma in Spain, features in an article discussing the work the company is doing to increase diagnostic tests for COVID-19 and explore the potential of its current medicine portfolio as potential treatments.
  • Chris Hopson (MBA 1992), Chief Executive of NHS Providers, features in the Guardian discussing the shortage of swabs and reagents which is preventing NHS Trusts from being able to carry out more COVID-19 testing for staff.
  • Jane Turton (MBA 1990) CEO of All3Media, was interviewed on BBC Radio 4 programme The Bottom Line last week, talking about the future of television streaming.
  • Ziling Zang (PhD Water 2020) is interviewed in an article, talking about how she helped coordinate a response to the epidemic among Chinese students at Cranfield. 
  • Patrick Edmond (MSc Air Transport 2000) featured in Aviation Week, discussing the need for the aviation industry to address long-term strategies to reduce emissions - despite the current coronavirus-driven cut in air traffic.
  • Vanni Gibertini (MSc Air Transport Management 2002) has written an article about how secondary airports have been affected by COVID-19.
  • Thora Thorgeirsdottir (PhD Leadership and Management 2016) has been appointed Head of Services and Communications at Félagsbústöðum, a social housing organisation based in Iceland.
  • Jesus Lopez Ruiz (MSc Thermal Power 2011) is Preliminary Design Technical Manager for Future Projects of Avio Aero. 
  • Shivanshi Sharma (MSc Management 2019) and Olukemi Eyeoyibo (PhD Leadership & Management 2022) are both interviewed in article about future female business leaders at Cranfield School of Management.
  • Background screening company Verifile, founded by CEO Eyal Ben Cohen (MBA 2004) - winner of the School of Management Entrepreneur Alumnus of the Year Award 2020, has pledged £3 million to support the emergency recruitment of health and social care employees and volunteers dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Jean-Hubert Balaya (Certificate in Leadership & Management Development) has been announced as Acting Director for General Services and Procurement for the African Development Bank Group.  
  • Susan Lousada DL (MSc Translational Medicine 2008) has been appointed High Sheriff of Bedfordshire for 2020-21.
  • Deji Ashiru (Msc Offshore & Ocean Technology 2007), Managing Director and CEO of Contec Global Energy Limited, features in The Nation, after engaging in charity and humanitarian activities in his local community during the coronavirus crisis.
  • Dr Edmund Hughes (BEng Agriculture 1990, PhD 1990), Director of Green Marine Associate, features in an interview discussing how he is supporting the global shipping industry to improve its environmental standards through effective, consistent implementation of international regulations.
  • Anders Forslund (MSc Astronautics and Space Engineering 2008) features in an article discussing sustainability initiatives in Scandinavian aviation and the work his company Heart Aerospace are conducting on the design of a short-haul electric airliner.
  • Nick Hinton is set to take over as chairman at Britain and Nepal NGOs Network – an association of British charities working with the government in Nepal. 
  • Soneet R. Kapila  (MBA 1978), has been elected as Treasurer of the American Bankruptcy Institute, on a two-year term. 
  • Dr Harry Lamble (MBA 2007) CEO at Sense Biodetection, and his brother Ralph Lamble are working to adapt a £15m portable flu testing kit developed over the last six years into a portable COVID-19 test kit.
  • Alessandro Giduici (PhD Leadership and Management 2012), Senior Lecturer in Strategy and Director of Modular Executive MBA at Cass Business School, features in an interview with Poets & Quants after being named in their list of '2020 Best 40 under 40 Professors'. 
  • Dr Anino Emuwa (MBA 1992), Founder of Avendis Consulting, has joined the Board of DCSL Nigeria as an independent Non-Executive Director.
  • Mohammed Rufai (General Management Programme 2011) features in a profile of the top Chief Technical Officers of major Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in Nigeria.
  • Frederic Sebban (MSc Finite Element Methods 1991), Associate Director of June-Partners, has been featured in the Marquis ‘Who’s Who’ biography list, showcasing accomplished professionals.
  • Tom Davies (MBA 2005) discusses the need for manufacturing to prioritise the digitalisation of accounts payable and the benefits that doing so could bring.
  • Iain Watt (MSc Aerodynamics 1993) features in a profile on Yahoo! Canada, discussing his career in race car engineering and his top career tips.
  • Simone Weber (PhD Aerospace 2019), Technology Integration Manager at Airbus Helicopters UK, has worked with researchers at Cranfield University on a collaborative research project that has shown strong potential for advancing the state-of-the-art in measuring deformation of helicopter rotor blades in the rotating frame.
  • Patrick Flynn (MBA, 1996), has been appointed the new Chief Operating Officer for Silicon Valley Bank UK and EMEA.
  • Tunde Ajia (Leading Complex Projects and Programmes 2019) has published an article, 'An investment perspective on Nigeria's economy', discussing the infrastructure challenges and opportunities in Nigeria during a period of growth and expansion, and notes the strain that COVID-19 is currently placing on this infrastructure.
  • Mark Fosdike (MSc Aerospace Vehicle Design 2014) is CEO of startup, Datch - who have just secured $3.2 million in seed funding for "Voice Visual" artificial intelligence assistant for industry. 
  • Philip Dunne (MBA 1995) has been appointed as UK Managing Partner at Roland Berger.
  • Angus Clarke (MSc Air Transport 2001) has been appointed as Commercial Director of Air France, in addition to his role as Deputy Director General of Strategy at Air France-KLM.
  • Benson Ocholuje Abounu (MSc Industrial Engineering and Administration 1978) features in an article published by Nigerian Pilot News.
  • Simon Aranonu (Business Leaders Programme), Executive Director of Bank of Industry, has published a book “Financial Freedom” – a guide to managing personal finances and eliminating debt.
  • Tristram Mayhew (Business Growth Programme 2008), founder of GoApe, has joined the board at The Font – co-founded by fellow Cranfield alumnus Joey Powis (MBA 2016).
  • Cristina Gimenez Thomsen (MSc Logistics and Supply Chain Management 1999) is a speaker on a Global Business School Network webinar, ‘Business schools and the call to community action part 2’ on 9 June.
  • Azzam Younes (PhD School of Applied Sciences 1992) features in an interview published by The Chemical Engineer, discussing his voluntary work for IChemE as an interviewer for the Professional Process Safety Engineer registration.
  • Dr Obafemi Hamza (PhD Systems Process Engineering) has been featured as a success behind the management of COVID-19 outbreak in Lagos.
  • Liz Searle (MBA 2006) is CEO of Keech Hospice Care, who have just been awarded a Queen's Award for Voluntary Service.
  • Dr Anino Emuwa (MBA 1992) has been feature in a biography published by Business Africa Online.
  • Group CFO of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Ugo Nwaghodoh (MSC Finance and Management 2004), was featured in Nairametrics.
  • Robert Hanna (MBA 1993) discusses alternative financing options for businesses during challenging times in a piece published on the Association of MBAs website.
  • Gary Smith (MBA 2007) has been appointed as the new Chief Operating Officer at Trenchard Aviation Group. 
  • Dr Sarah Qureshi (PhD Aerospace 2016) features in Gulf News discussing her work to make air travel more sustainable.
  • Thomas Leeson (MSc Software Techniques for Computer Aided Engineering 1990) has written an article discussing the need for manufacturing to adopt sustainable supply models.
  • Tom Enright (MSc Engineering Structures 1988), Chief Executive of Wexford County Council, has been appointed as a member the Irish government's Tourism Recovery Taskforce. Mr Enright has also been named as a member of a new independent Anti-Racism Committee established to draw up a new Action Plan Against Racism for Ireland.
  • Maj Gen Bhupinder Yadav (MSc Quality Management 1994) has written an article for Indian Defence News, discussing the potential huge losses the Indian defence industry faces in the wake of COVID-19.
  • Robert Mariani has been appointed the new Vice President for Business development of Precise software Solutions, Inc.
  • Founder of Kendor Consulting Adora Ikwuemesi (MSc Information Technology 1998), is set to lead a Human Resources Management Session in Tekedia's "Mini-MBA" - a four month weekly programme designed to help leaders develop their skills.
  • Neil Heslop (MBA 1992), has been appointed the new Chief Executive of The Charities Aid Foundation (CAF).
  • Aeronautical Engineer João Correia (PhD Aerodynamics 2011) features in an article on F1 Technical, “Correia Racing: The Portuguese F1 team that never was”.
  • GAM Investment Manager Amy Kam (MBA 2001), has written an article discussing “Asia’s Exciting Future and its Rising Tide of Fixed Income."
  • Pauline Dumont (MSc Automotive Mechatronics 2015) features in an interview in celebration of International Women in Engineering Day 2020.

If you've been featured in the media, don't forget to share your successes with us so we can include them in our quarterly roundup. Email our Alumni Communications team including a link to the web site or press release.