Leading automotive expert lured to Aston Business School

A LEADING West Midland academic is joining Aston Business School as its new Professor of Industrial Strategy.

Professor David Bailey is an influential business expert on economic restructuring and industrial policy. He is one of the leading experts on the UK and West Midlands automotive sector.

He has been lured away from Coventry Business School and the new appointment marks a return to Birmingham as prior to tutoring at Coventry he worked at Birmingham Business School. It is believed Coventry Business School made a strong case for retaining his services but in the end he opted for Aston.

As an author, regular media commentator and newspaper columnist, he has provided articles and commentary on key economic and regional policy issues including the closure of MG Rover at Longbridge and its eventual rebirth as MG UK under Chinese ownership, and the ongoing expansion of Jaguar Land Rover.

Most recently, he has undertaken European funded research on using foreign investment to upgrade clusters and on industrial and regional policy and the rise of ‘phoenix’ industries such as the low carbon vehicles cluster in the West Midlands.

He has also recently worked with SQW Consulting on a project for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on developing a framework to assist Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) in responding to economic ‘shocks’ and restructuring.

He has twice chaired the Regional Studies Association, and has acted as a Special Advisor to the House of Commons Select Committee on the West Midlands region, presenting to a number of select committees and All Party Parliamentary Groups. He has also been a Non-Executive Director at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust from 2006-2013.

Speaking about his new appointment, Professor Bailey said: “I’m delighted to be joining Aston Business School. The school combines world class academic research with genuine impact and engagement. It’s a chance for me to further develop my research and teaching on industrial and regional policy with some quite brilliant academics and students. Some of my immediate research will focus on industrial policy in the auto industry and what more we could do to push the recent upswing in the industry and maxmimise its impact.”

Professor George Feiger, Executive Dean of Aston Business School, added: “I am delighted to welcome David to Aston Business School. He brings with him a wealth of experience and specialist knowledge which will enhance and strengthen our academic and business partnerships and enrich the teaching experience of our students.”