University of Strathclyde graduate and visiting professor Sir Tom Hunter has been recognised as one of the first 100 AACSB Influential Leaders at a prestigious ceremony in Chicago.
AACSB International, the global accrediting body and membership association for business schools, made the announcement at the first ceremony of its kind to acknowledge the contribution of graduates across the globe.
Sir Tom's work exemplifies the innovative mindset and meaningful contributions to society that University of Strathclyde graduates display – whether they operate within large corporations, small businesses, or the non-profit sector.
Since graduating, Sir Tom has gone on to become one of Scotland's most successful businessmen and endowed the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship at Strathclyde.
A businessman, serial entrepreneur, and philanthropist, Sir Tom set up his first business venture with a £5,000 loan from his father and a £5,000 loan from the bank. He started selling trainers from the back of a van and went on to build Europe's largest independent sports retailer, Sports Division, subsequently selling it to JJB Sports for £290 million in 1998.
Sir Tom set up his private equity business, West Coast Capital, in 2001. West Coast Capital is the private investment vehicle founded and funded by Sir Tom and his family in 2001.
To date, Sir Tom's foundation has invested in excess of £50 million into social causes. He was knighted in 2005 for services in entrepreneurship and philanthropy and was awarded the prestigious Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy in 2013.
The Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship, an academic department within Strathclyde Business School, is one of the most important social investments made by The Hunter Foundation. Sir Tom's support of the centre is based on the simple premise that education changes people's lives—their aspirations, their sense of purpose, their skill base, and what they can ultimately achieve. The Hunter Centre is focused on the study, research, and encouragement of entrepreneurship within Scotland and is committed to engaging in and drawing from world-class research to inform the design and delivery of a growing portfolio of useful learning experiences offered to "Strathclyders" (students, staff, and alumni) as well as to the wider entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Professor Eleanor Shaw, head of the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship, and Vice-Dean, Strathclyde Business School, said, "We were delighted to hear Sir Tom has been recognised by AACSB as one of its first 100 influential leaders. The awards recognise individuals who have pioneered change and have been influential and innovative in business. Sir Tom is an inspiration not only to us in the Hunter Centre and Strathclyde Business School, but to the wider business world and global communities also. We'd like to congratulate him heartily on receiving this well-deserved acknowledgement."
Sir Tom joins individuals such as the CEO of one of the world's largest global relief services, a technology pioneer who is working to cure cancer, the founder of a global e-commerce powerhouse, and an enterprising president attributed with reviving an international toy industry favourite. More than 20 industry sectors, from consumer products to healthcare to nonprofits, across 21 countries, are present in this year's group.
Thomas R. Robinson, president and chief executive officer of AACSB International, said, "It is my honour to recognise Sir Tom Hunter for his contributions as an Influential Leader, and to thank the University of Strathclyde for its dedication to providing a business education environment based on engagement, innovation, and impact.
"If told, the success stories of all business school graduates would fill unmeasurable volumes. AACSB is honoured to celebrate Sir Tom – and the collective 100 Influential Leaders – as a representation of how business school alumni have positively influenced society, as well as the management education industry's, past, present, and promising future."
For the nomination process, AACSB developed a short list of open-ended questions that provided a framework for expectations for nominees. From April to June 2015, AACSB-accredited schools submitted notable alumni who have made (or are making) an impact in the world. From the nominations, a selection committee reviewed and chose stories that showed a sampling of the positive impact that business school graduates have made on society.
For the full list of recipients, visit www.aacsb.edu/Influential-Leaders.