Henley Business School – Pro Deans appointed

Professor Elena Beleska-Spasova and Professor Andrew Godley have been appointed Pro Deans at the Henley Business School. Both are new roles and will provide management support to John Board, Executive Dean of the school.

Elena will serve as Pro-Dean for Education and Innovation and will be responsible for strategic leadership of the teaching and learning portfolio and provision, and for advancing innovative pedagogy, learning and delivery models in the UK and globally – while Andrew will be the Pro Dean for Resources and Partnerships which will involve managing the resourcing of Henley’s activities and overseeing the delivery of key strategic and commercial partnerships and internationalisation objectives. Both will start their four-year term on 1 July 2021.

Announcing the appointments, John Board said, “I am delighted to announce these appointments following a formal selection process. These are both key positions for the Business School and will have a pivotal role in light of the rapidly increasing scope and scale of Henley’s activities. I am sure colleagues will wish both Elena and Andrew every success and will work with them to take forward new challenges.”

Elena said “I am looking forward to this opportunity to work with colleagues across the business school, the university and our international partners on tackling the many challenges faced by our sector and the unprecedented disruption on a global scale. Using our collective experience and engaging with employers and our diverse communities create opportunities not only to do things differently but also to envision innovative ways of educating and developing individuals and organisations and honour our heritage in social responsibility”.

Andrew said “I am very excited to be taking on these new responsibilities as we seek to build Henley’s global reputation. Henley was founded in 1945 to be the destination for corporate leadership development as the country rebuilt from the second world war. Now, as the world rebuilds after Covid, Henley must continue to support leaders everywhere as they grapple with new and more complex challenges”.

Elena Beleska-Spasova

Elena Beleska-Spasova is Professor of International Business and a Head of Post Experience and Apprenticeship. Her research interests include strategic issues and challenges faced by on an international scale, drivers of international competitiveness and performance and cross border expansion and operations.

She joined Henley Business School in September 2009 with over ten years of corporate and consulting experience working with organisations across Europe and North America.. Elena has held a number of teaching and learning leadership positions over the years and led the instituting and growth of the Apprenticeship Programmes at Henley.

Andrew Godley

Andrew Godley is Associate Dean (International) and Head of Leadership, Organisations and Behaviour. He is Professor of Management and Business History and the Academic Director of the Henley Centre for Entrepreneurship.

Andrew's research interests lie in the areas of entrepreneurship and business history. He has been a consultant to several leading firms and government departments and is a frequent commentator in the broadcast and written media on trends in entrepreneurship.