MBA Advisory Committee
The MBA advisory committee actively engages with the School's MBA leadership team, leveraging members’ talents, knowledge and networks to improve and develop our MBA in a competitive global market.
The MBA advisory committee meets three times a year (twice virtually and once on campus) to provide oversight and advice to the School’s MBA programmes. Current activities are focused on:
- Key themes: Capturing and communicating the value our MBA provides for students, employers, alumni and our School/University. The committee identified PIE (Practical – International – Ethical) and is developing these themes.
- Developing our curriculum: Our committee includes experts across many sectors with knowledge of the marketplace and industry developments. We bring the latest thinking into the classroom to support the programme, with specific expertise in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and technology.
- Supporting our students: Links back into industry during MBA job and internship hunting are invaluable. Our advisory committee members work to identify professional contacts and networks that we can connect our students and programme with.
MBA advisory committee members
The MBA advisory committee includes alumni from our Full-time and Global MBA programmes. Members are reviewed on an ongoing basis, taking into account individuals’ availability.
Ian Beswick
Ian Beswick is an experienced commercial and operational leader and has led successful transformations of global businesses ($500m+) through the management of international businesses in the energy and chemical markets.
Ian is able to provide tough questioning and insight, and challenge the norm at board level. Passionate about the circular economy and sustainability, he recognises the issues companies face: changing technology realisation timelines; economic headwinds; customer trends; government policies; and strong competition from existing and new players. He is able to help organisations prepare for tomorrow whilst making today’s business crisis resistant
He is a business builder and innovator, who can create structure, vision and process to drive deep transformation across multinational companies. He has a highly entrepreneurial mindset and has experience in large corporate and early stage business incubator environments, backed by an MBA and degree in engineering.
He has leveraged his strategic and operational implementation experience at the most senior level in Shell to strengthen performance and improve resilience, guiding the organisation through large-scale, critical change situations to drive financial growth
As global category manager he was responsible for an annual purchasing budget of >$0.5bn and aligned cross-functional teams to drive the global roll out of multiple new packaging lines within Shell lubricants’ consumer facing businesses.
He also led operations and the commercialisation of transformational biodegradable plastic products, created by a high-growth entrepreneurial R&D start-up. He developed the company’s purpose, vision and strategy and aligned research funnel priorities to them. Ian also executed a three-year business plan within an incubator environment to sell technology to early majority customers.
Most recently, Ian has acted as a consultant to private equity and industry. He is engaged by purpose driven organisations, with disruptive products and high growth ambitions.
He has helped shape the investment strategy for BP’s new Launchpad fund as Venture Partner, looking across the energy, chemical, materials and the circular economy sectors.
Ian has also:
- Provided strategic review of sustainability performance and the ESG programmes of global chemical companies for an asset management fund
- Acted as board advisor to an early stage technology company and is guiding them towards an initial £2m valuation
- Been a member of the MBA advisory board for Alliance Manchester Business School for the last four years, providing oversight to the recent improvements to its MBA programme
Dr. Bhaskar Dasgupta
Dr. Bhaskar Dasgupta is the Associate Director of Business Development at ADGM focusing on financial services across emerging markets and Europe. Dr. Dasgupta is responsible for overseeing the development of the banking, asset management and private banking sectors, including key areas such as Crypto Assets, Fintech, Re-Insurance, Sustainable Finance, Digital Banking and Digital Investment Management in ADGM.
Prior to joining ADGM in 2019, Dr. Dasgupta was the Chief Operating Officer of UK Export Finance at the UK Government's Department of International Trade. His 25-year career included senior level business development and transformation roles in investment banking, transaction banking, technology and consulting in firms such as HSBC, ABN AMRO, Citigroup and PwC.
Dr. Dasgupta holds a BSc in Mathematics from the University of Bhopal, an MBA in Finance from Indore University, a PhD in Financial Modelling & AI from The University of Manchester, and a PhD in Politics from Kings College London. He is currently completing a PhD in Food History at Brunel University.
Nathalie Ngatia
Nathalie Ngatia is the Head of Alliances at Standard Chartered Bank, where she is responsible for leading her team in the conceptualisation and implementation of strategic partnerships, to deliver solutions that go beyond traditional banking products.
Prior to this Nathalie worked as a post-MBA Leadership Express hire for America Express (UK) as a Senior Manager in the Network Strategy team. In this role, Nathalie led the organisation in the design and delivery of the first home-based call centre model for AMEX UK.
While studying her MBA at Alliance Manchester Business School, Nathalie worked on consulting projects for PZ Cussons, Manchester Radio, and Samvo Gaming Group on their international market entry strategies - a phase in her career that gave her the opportunity to work in Germany and Poland. Prior to joining the Manchester MBA, she worked with Standard Bank Group Kenya as a Corporate Relationship Manager and before that as Brand Strategy Executive at Greyowl Limited.
Nathalie is passionate about value creation through collaboration. She is currently focused on how she can leverage her career experience and market linkages to explore the application of disruptive technologies and digital capabilities in solving the socio-economic needs of Kenyans. Her colleagues and friends use the words 'Connector', 'Innovator' and 'Resilient Go-getter' to define her personal brand.
Nathalie is also an active board member of Kenyatta National Hospital League of Friends, whose mandate is to assist financially disadvantaged orthopaedic patients in purchasing orthopaedic aides following injury.
In her own words, “I am honoured to be part of the Alliance Manchester Business School MBA Advisory board. Based in Nairobi, Kenya - Africa’s Silicon Savannah - I have seen a plethora of digital capabilities and new technologies being launched into and adapted by the market quite rapidly. These capabilities come with new revenue opportunities bust also business risks (e.g. cybercrime, client data confidentiality and more) that leaders must appreciate to be effective in today’s business environment. I will leverage my industry experience to guide the development of a future-ready MBA curriculum and use my networks and market linkages to grow the Alliance MBS MBA brand in Kenya and Africa."
Nathalie holds a Bsc. (Hons) International Business Administration (Marketing) from USIU, Nairobi and an MBA from The University of Manchester (Alliance Manchester Business School), UK.
Mike Parker CBE
Mike Parker is the Senior Independent Director at PV Crystalox Solar plc, Chairman of the Audit and the Remuneration Committee, and a member of the Nomination Committee. He is a Non-Executive Director of Sublimity Therapeutics with headquarters in Dublin, Ireland.
Mike’s previous directorships with quoted companies were The Dow Chemical Company in the USA, Invensys plc, SNC-Lavalin in Canada and Laird plc.
Mike is involved with a variety of charities and not-for-profit organisations. He is Chairman of the Board of Governors of Liverpool John Moores University. He is Chairman of Street League (a national charity that utilises sport to engage with inactive 16–25 year olds) and the Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA). He is also a Trustee and Honorary Secretary of the Energy Institute. He is Strategic Advisor to the Met Police. He previously was Chairman of Liverpool’s economic and regeneration company, Liverpool Vision. He was also a member of the Met Policr management board.
Mike began his career with Dow in 1968. During his 34 years there, he was based in the US, the UK, Switzerland and Hong Kong. He became President and Chief Executive Officer of The Dow Chemical Company in Midland, Michigan, USA in 2000 and was a member of the company’s Board of Directors from 1995 to 2003. He was subsequently appointed Group Chief Executive of British Nuclear Fuels (a manufacturer and transporter of nuclear products) from 2003 until 2009.
Mike was awarded a CBE in the New Year Honours 2009 for services to the energy industry and in 2014 he became a Citizen of Honour for the City of Liverpool.
Lewis Ryan
Lewis Ryan studied Geology and Petroleum Geoscience at Imperial College London before working as a geoscientist for Ophir Energy, an independent oil and gas explorer and producer.
Following his time at Ophir, Lewis then joined the Full-time MBA class of 2019 at Alliance MBS, during which he also worked in business development for an Edinburgh-based data start-up. Since graduating from the MBA, Lewis has worked in the Corporate Strategy and Innovation team at Equinor in London.
Liam Wadsworth
Liam Wadsworth (MEng | MEnt | MBA) joined the MBA with a specialist technology and finance background. He completed his MBA with a distinction as part of the Young Potential Leaders scheme in 2015 and he was the proud recipient of the Joseph Wright Scholarship. During his MBA, he focused on developing his passion for analytics and completed an additional data science course at the same time.
After the MBA, Liam joined Amazon and put his analytics skills to use focusing on operations to help launch a new facility. Recently, he moved to Hilti to specialise in territory management for northern Europe. He has now being given the global leadership role for the function covering its full scope, from strategy creation to global best practice definition and roll out.
Luc Yao
Luc Yao is the Senior Advisor for some innovation and transformation projects for Merck KGaA and M-Ventures. Based in Darmstadt Germany, he is active in the electronics industry, start-ups and open innovation networks.
Luc Yao is also an academic visitor at Oxford Institute of Population Ageing, University of Oxford, and a speaker for Digital Health at German Healthcare Partnership in Berlin.
Luc Yao obtained an MBA at Alliance MBS in 2003, and a Master of Science for Consulting and Coaching for Change from HEC Paris and Said Business School, Oxford University in 2013.
Gabriela Yarto Weber
Gabriela Yarto Weber has been an Engagement Manager at McKinsey since 2016, when she joined as an Associate after completing her MBA. She has significant experience working with telecommunications and media clients, as well as conducting wide range transformations and turnarounds. She is based out of Monterrey, Mexico.
Gabriela holds an MBA from Alliance Manchester Business School. She graduated with a distinction and earned the Outstanding MBA Citizenship Silver Award in recognition of exemplary contributions to the MBA community, as well as the prize for Best International Business Project.
Chrysoula Zervoudakis
Chrysoula Zervoudakis is an independent non-executive director at Quadpack Industries and sits on the advisory group of ImproveWell. As a Strategic Governance and Sustainability Advisor, she supports boards in their oversight and management of opportunities and risks. She contributes her experience as an institutional investor that constructively debated strategic, operational and financial decisions with executive managements and boards in the UK and Continental Europe. She is an angel investor, supporting growth companies with their strategy, governance and engagement with investors.
A highly rated Senior Investment Manager at AXA Framlington and Invesco, Chrysoula worked between London and Paris for over 25 years, building a strong track record with a clear philosophy of investing in dynamic companies creating sustainable value for all stakeholders. As an Analyst and Co-Head of Research, she evaluated strategic decision-making and sustainability policies across consumer and industrial sectors in UK and Continental Europe.
Chrysoula holds an MBA from Alliance MBS, the FT Non-Executive Director Diploma and a B.Soc.Sc in Economics from the University of Birmingham. She has completed the University of Cambridge Business Sustainability Management Course and is a member of Chapter Zero, raising the issue of climate change risk in the board room.
Pauline Lai, Director & Management Consultant, PL Management Ltd
Pauline Lai is an experienced Certified Public Accountant. She founded her own management consultancy firm, PL Management Limited in 2012 with a focus on providing professional consultancy services on M&A projects, corporate strategy and financing solutions formulation to clients in the Asia region.
Prior to becoming an entrepreneur, Pauline served as a finance leader in various sizable MNCs, including HSBC, Ernst & Young and Hong Kong listed companies. She also acted as a board member and led regional finance teams in HSBC Insurance, a real estate investment house, and different insurance groups, such as a Lloyd’s Asia coverholder.
Pauline is very knowledgeable about the Asia Pacific and China business environments. She possess a wide spectrum of skills and strengths, including strong regional strategic and financial control in regulated environments, delivering complicated M&A transactions and IPO, and arranging sophisticated financing solutions.
Pauline graduated from Alliance Manchester Business School, The University of Manchester in 2004 with a Global MBA degree.
After completed her MBA, Pauline worked with a group of enthusiastic alumni and the East Asia Centre, The University of Manchester (previously East Asia Centre, Alliance Manchester Business School) in Hong Kong to formally set up the AMBS Alumni Association in Hong Kong.
She was the first Chairman of the Alumni Association and is now the Honorary Advisor, working closely with the East Asia Centre and AMBS faculty. The alumni network is firmly established in the region and goes from strength to strength, thanks to active support and participation in alumni activities. The network connects alumni from a networking perspective and helps them to establish strong business relationships.
Pauline always appreciates opportunities to contribute to the University and the Business School. She feels that it is an honour to work with graduates and support them in different areas.
Emmanuel Walter, Chief Financial Officer, RM plc
Emmanuel Walter is a highly accomplished and results-driven Group CFO with more than 20 years’ international experience in Europe and Asia.
• He has previously held various senior financial positions, with multinationals specialising in the digital marketing / media and tech / SaaS sectors as well as in the Chinese market, where for 8 years he worked as CFO for manufacturing businesses. He is very experienced managing JVs, large listed and PE backed companies.
• Worked previously as the Global CFO of Jellyfish Digital Group (London, $0.3bn revenue, +80% growth vs. 2020, 2,300 staff across 20 markets, 40 offices globally , team of 80, a tier-1 Google Marketing Platform Partner & also providing Analytic SaaS )
• Worked previously as Global CFO at Kantar Media (London), an advertising analytic / SaaS and data provider, in a turnaround situation
• He is a speaker and chair at various C level conferences in Asia and Europe. He was the Chairman of the ACCA Corporate Sector Committee in 2016.
• Emmanuel has an electrical engineering degree, a BSc 1st class, an ACCA 1st pass and a top-tier MBA from Alliance Manchester Business School.
• French (Native), English (Bilingual), Mandarin (Conversational)
CFO and Operational experience
• Held various senior financial and operational executive positions for large US and European multinationals such as Nortel Networks, Vodafone, Inmarsat, Dialog Semi Conductor, AT&S, ABB Power, GE Power, Kantar Media (WPP) managing P&Ls up $1.4bn turnover (under IFRS and US GAAP) & 8k staff, with a team in excess of 180, specialising in the TMT and digital media sectors
• Worked as Group CFO for 4 listed (up to FTSE100 equivalent, Nasdaq/US, Plc & DAX/DE, SIX/CH, and AIM/UK) and 3 PE backed (owned by Bain Capital, Sun Capital, and Apollo Global Management) companies (valuation between $0.1bn to $4bn) in the UK, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, China and the USA
• Implemented 3 times SOX & internal control framework
• Completed 20 M&A transactions up to $4.6bn including a $2.1bn leverage financing, 4 carve-outs, as well as 3 US listings up to $9bn valuation (F1, F4, and
reverse merger/SPAC)
• Asian specialist with 8 years in China/Asia where I completed several greenfield projects up to $0.2bn, 5 acquisitions and JVs
Private Equity experience
• Led the finance function (60 staff) of a complex manufacturing business (16 sites, 3k staff, $0.5bn turnover) owned by Sun Capital PE fund in a turnaround situation (finance reorg, restructuring, $15m saving plan, etc.) as well as one M&A project ($6m)
• Led the Accounting, Controlling, IT and Legal functions of this packaging listed company owned by Apollo through a significant turnaround/refinancing and administration process reducing the company valuation from $1.1bn to less than $0.1bn. Completed the Apollo acquisition by carving out of the operating group, including a $50m debt re-financing with lenders as well as an equitization over 50% of the $0.3bn existing debts. Divested the 3 operating entities
Mat Barrow
Having graduated UMIST with a BEng in Aerospace Engineering in 2003, Mat was keen to return to Manchester and the AMBS to join the Global MBA, which he graduated with Distinction in December 2000 – 50% of the course having been an unexpected challenge due to the global Covid pandemic!
Mat is a technology leader, entrepreneur and board advisor, with business interests from Virtual Reality brain injury care to high-end British charcuterie. His main job is as CEO of a laboratory technology business (since 2019), prior to which, he has led consulting companies and delivered major programmes of work for the NHS. His heroine and inspiration is his daughter, who battled Stage 4 high risk Neuroblastoma with incredible bravery and now lives life with remarkable zest and the volume turned up to 11 – if she can be positive and happy in the face of adversity, anybody can.