Meet the new Interim Dean of Surrey Business School

"I am delighted to have been appointed Interim Dean of Surrey Business School (SBS) since the start of September. Following a PhD, experience as a retail analyst and then at Tesco plc in store development strategy, I joined our School in 2005. Apart from a brief period away at University of Southampton, I have been present ever since, notably as a Head of Department of Marketing and Retail and latterly as Director of Research for the School. Given the length of time I have worked within SBS, I have seen the wonderful growth of our School both in size and research quality, alongside the advances in the relevance, innovativeness and engagement of our student learning journey.

We have a continuing focus on further developing our applied student experience for an increasingly digital world alongside the promotion of highly relevant high-quality research for business, the third sector and policy. In particular, the recent launch of our SurreyIDEA initiative is an exciting development that is currently engaging hundreds of school children in experiential day-long sessions focused on digital entrepreneurship, with plans to launch both undergraduate and postgraduate courses – amongst the first of their type in the UK.

As we start the new term, a renewed focus and purpose becomes evident across the School as students arrive at campus and colleagues return from periods of field research (and hopefully some much deserved vacation). I would especially like to welcome our students; both those arriving for the first time and also those returning, including those who spent last year in industry on our placement scheme. We will continue to focus on providing you with an enjoyable and stretching year that will develop you into rounded and highly employable graduates. But, of course, this is very much a two-way street – you are likely to get out what you put in. This relates not only to preparedness for sessions, but will also involve you taking the opportunities that might be outside your comfort zone – international exchanges, placements, leading groups, perhaps becoming a course representative, for example.

Above all, I am determined that we continue to develop the School to become a renowned destination where students wish to study and staff come to teach and research. Here’s to an exciting and successful year!" 

Professor Steve Wood