It was announced today, Tuesday 10 October 2017, that Dr Richard Hutchins, currently Chief Operating Officer of the West Midlands Growth Company, has been appointed to the role of Director of Strategy and Policy at Warwick. He is expected to formally take up the position in the next few months.

Warwick’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Stuart Croft, welcomed Richard’s return saying:

I am delighted to welcome Richard back to Warwick. He is of course no stranger to the University, not just because he previously served as the Director of Jaguar Land Rover Programmes in WMG, but we have also worked closely with him in his roles with several organisations that are, or have been, key partners for the University.”

While Richard’s most recent role has been helping to establish the new West Midlands Growth Company as its Chief Operating Officer, he also held significant positions in a number of policy and business organisations including: Advantage West Midlands, Coventry and Warwickshire LEP, and the West Midlands Manufacturing Consortium.

Neil Rami, Chief Executive of West Midlands Growth Company said:

Richard played an important role, working with the WMCA, local authorities, LEPs, universities and others, in making the case for the Growth Company, and subsequently putting in place a three-year business plan. The University of Warwick is an important partner of ours, and we look forward to working with Richard in his new role at Warwick.”

We will publish a fuller biography, and more details on his new role, when Richard formally takes up his new position.