Professor Bob Cryan CBE appointed to lead CMI Board of Companions

Bob Cryan, Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Huddersfield, announced as new Chair of the CMI Board of Companions

The Vice Chancellor and CEO of the University of Huddersfield Professor Bob Cryan CBE has been named as the new Chair of the CMI Board of Companions and a member of the CMI Board of Trustees.

Over the course of his career Professor Cryan’s many achievements include becoming the youngest Professor of Engineering at the age of 30 and subsequently the youngest leader of a UK University upon his appointment to the role of Vice Chancellor at the University of Huddersfield in 2007.

Professor Cryan succeeds Patrick Dunne Chair of EY Foundation, who has served as Chair of the CMI Board of Companions and CMI Trustee since 2013.

“The Chartered Management Institute sets the gold standard internationally for management and leadership and their highest accolade, reserved for the best of the best, is CMI Companionship. To be joining the CMI Board of Trustees and appointed as Chair of the CMI Board of Companions is both an honour and a privilege and I look forward to working with Bruce, Ann and other colleagues to further the CMI’s mission of increasing the number and standard of professionally qualified managers, both in the UK and internationally.”    

Announcing his appointment, Bruce Carnegie-Brown President of CMI said:

“Bob brings a wealth of experience from across the education sector and has a proven track record of building successful partnerships between business and education. He is an inspirational leader and will be a huge asset to CMI. I look forward to working with him and the Board of Companions to continue CMI’s success as we aim to professionalise management and raise leadership standards.”

Professor Cryan’s achievements as a leader have been recognised widely in recent years with recognition from the Guardian Inspiring Leader Award in 2013 and the Telegraph’s Educate North Inspiring Leader Award in 2015. Under his leadership, the University of Huddersfield has also been recognised through the Higher Education Academy’s first ever Global Teaching Excellence award and a Gold rating in the 2017 Teaching Excellence Framework, the Daily Telegraph Educate North New University of the Year 2015/16, a Queen’s Anniversary Prize in 2015 and the Times Higher University of the Year 2013/14, amongst other awards.

Welcoming his appointment, Ann Francke CEO of CMI said:

“Patrick Dunne has led the Board of Companions with distinction and helped to deliver a diverse Companion community that is always ready to support the CMI, our members and students in developing ever more professional managers and leaders. We are grateful to Patrick and appreciate all of his achievements in this role.

“An award winning leader, the appointment of Bob represents a great milestone for CMI as we seek to better engage our membership community and drive up professional standards in management and leadership. Commitment to high quality and impactful leadership has always been both a passion and at the heart of Bob’s achievements throughout his career and I look forward to working with Bob in the years ahead.”