Leeds MBA Appoints New Advisory Board to Strengthen Industry Relevance
Leeds University Business School has announced the appointment of a new Advisory Board for the Leeds MBA.
This brings together senior leaders from across industry to provide strategic guidance, strengthen external engagement, and support the continued development of the programme.
Rakesh Sinha who brings extensive experience from his role on the LUBS International Advisory Board, has been appointed Chair.
Rakesh is a Group CFO and Executive Director with 30+ years of experience leading international business development for consumer goods companies in both developed and emerging markets. He has lived and worked in seven countries, including Singapore, Australia, Taiwan, Malaysia and the USA. His career includes a proven track record of developing and orchestrating strategies that build footprint and leadership positions, outgrowing competition, driving value creation whilst creating high performance teams.
Rakesh’s career includes a 17-year tenure with Unilever PLC, the global consumer goods company holding various senior finance and commercial roles; Group Chief Financial Officer & Executive Director of PureCircle, the world’s leading producer of natural stevia; CFO of Jack Link’s, a Protein Snacking company; CFO of Private Equity backed companies Tropicana Brands Group and Glacier.
Rakesh is a non-executive director of two start-ups; Member of the Leeds University Business School International Advisory Board and a qualified professional ICF coach.
Rakesh is a University of Leeds alumni, holding a BEng (Hons) in Chemical Engineering; an Executive MBA from Rotterdam School of Management (RSM), Erasmus University, The Netherlands. He is a Chartered Accountant and a Fellow of the Institute of Directors (FIoD).
Rakesh is joined by a highly accomplished group of senior industry figures who bring significant global expertise and leadership experience, including Joanne Carmichael, Senior Director for Transportation and Infrastructure at WSP; James Cass, Partner and Managing Director at AlixPartners; and Lucy Walton, Managing Director and Head of Integration at Goldman Sachs. Academic representation is provided by Prof. Niall Hayes, Deputy Dean, and Dr. Richard Hodgett, MBA Director.
Prof. Niall Hayes, Deputy Dean, commented:
I’m delighted to welcome Rakesh, Joanne, James, and Lucy to the inaugural MBA Advisory Board. They bring a huge wealth of experience and will play a pivotal role in ensuring the Leeds MBA continues to go from strength to strength.
The Board will strengthen an already high-performing programme, bringing fresh external insight to enhance its strategic direction, industry relevance, and global reputation. By drawing on the experience of senior leaders across sectors, it will help ensure the Leeds MBA remains responsive to a rapidly evolving business environment and continues to stand out in an increasingly competitive market.
It will play a key role in supporting outstanding student outcomes, deepening engagement with industry, and reinforcing the programme’s position as a hub for leadership development. Through this partnership, the Leeds MBA will build on its existing strengths, ensuring it remains dynamic, impactful, and closely aligned with the needs of global business.
