Dr Martin Stow has been appointed as the Director of Nexus and will lead a programme to embed new approaches to nurturing and supporting innovation and enterprise across the University.
Nexus will enable external partners to access more easily the University’s world-class health, engineering, environment and data science & technology capabilities and expertise to drive forward collaborative innovation.
Dr Stow, who is due to join the University on 30 October, said: "I am very excited and privileged to start working with the team at Leeds, to catalyse a culture of collaboration, innovation and impact across the University and beyond.
"Together we will bring our world class ideas, concepts and technologies to deliver breakthrough solutions to real world, market-based problems.”
“I see Nexus changing the mind set and culture in which universities and industry work together, promoting new standards of working, and generating economic growth, not just for Leeds but beyond.”
Dr Stow is a Biochemist by training with a first class honours degree and DPhil (PhD) from the University of York.
He has over 25 years’ experience working in senior worldwide research and development and leadership roles within the healthcare and life science industries both in multinational businesses – as Vice President for Research and Development with Johnson & Johnson (J&J) – and in ‘start up’ organisations, most recently as the CEO of GENEU Ltd, a disruptive and innovative DNA personalised skincare business.
In this business, Dr Stow was responsible for taking the concept of DNA and lifestyle personalised skincare to launch and then driving the commercial viability of the business.
He has brought more than 25 new products to market in the Medical Device, Diagnostics and Consumer sectors, most of which have been launched globally.
He has a successful track record of managing teams world-wide by developing talent and capability, implementing processes to ensure sustainability, while driving innovation and creating a valuable pipeline of opportunities which are aligned to strategic goals.
Dr Stow continued: “Having worked with multiple stakeholders from different backgrounds and cultures and in multidisciplinary teams in large multinationals and small spin-outs, I have first-hand experience of the perceived challenges that working with universities can present to industry.
"My role will be to use this perspective to help us unlock the enormous potential and commercial value that resides within the University of Leeds.”
Dr Stow will report directly to Professor Lisa Roberts, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Innovation, and take on the leadership and implementation of Nexus within the University.
Professor Lisa Roberts said: “I am delighted that Martin is joining us to direct Nexus. He has a superb track record of working at senior levels within industry, so his experience will be invaluable to Leeds in driving forward a culture of innovation, by initiating connections between our Nexus tenants and our researchers and providing both with strong mentorship and support to achieve impactful outcomes.
"Martin will also have a significant role to play in using Nexus as a magnet to attract regional, national and international collaborators to Leeds. This is an important part of our research and innovation strategy and Martin will be a great asset to us in delivering on our ambitious plans”.
Nexus is part of the University’s £520m investment in its campus, aimed at positioning Leeds as one of the UK’s top higher education institutions.
Further information
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