Professor Christian Harrison, Professor of Leadership and Enterprise and Director of the Centre for Leadership and Empowerment at the University of Greater Manchester, has been elected as the next Chair of the British Academy of Management (BAM), becoming the first Black person in the Academy’s 40-year history to hold the prestigious position.
His election represents a landmark moment not only for the British Academy of Management but also for higher education and the global management community. As the UK’s leading learned society for management research, education, and practice, BAM plays a pivotal role in shaping management scholarship, influencing policy and practice, and supporting thousands of academics, educators, doctoral researchers, and practitioners across the United Kingdom and internationally. Professor Harrison will formally assume office in January 2027, leading the Academy into its next chapter at a particularly significant point in its history following its 40th anniversary celebrations.
For Professor Harrison, who hails from Nigeria, the appointment carries particular significance. It represents a landmark achievement for African scholarship and demonstrates the increasing global recognition of African academic leadership. His election is not simply about breaking a historical barrier; it reflects the confidence that the BAM community has placed in his vision, leadership, and longstanding commitment to advancing the Academy and the wider management discipline. It also sends a powerful message about the importance of representation within learned societies and the opportunities that exist for scholars from all backgrounds to contribute to and lead the international academic community.
A dedicated member of the British Academy of Management for more than fourteen years, Professor Harrison has made exceptional contributions to the Academy through a range of strategic leadership roles. He currently serves as Co-Vice Chair of Communities, where he has helped shape one of BAM’s largest portfolios, supporting the growth and development of the Academy’s Special Interest Groups, conference tracks, and scholarly communities. During his tenure, BAM has experienced unprecedented growth in its communities, with new Special Interest Groups established, significant expansion in member engagement, and an extensive programme of academic and professional development events.
Beyond this role, Professor Harrison has served as Chair of the Leadership and Leadership Development Special Interest Group, growing it into one of the Academy’s largest and most vibrant scholarly communities. He co-founded BAM’s African Studies Track, creating an important platform for advancing African scholarship within the management discipline, and has played a leading role in several major Academy initiatives, including chairing the 40th Anniversary Working Group. His sustained commitment and outstanding service to BAM were recognised through the award of the prestigious BAM Medal for Contribution to Communities.
His election is widely regarded as both a personal achievement and a historic milestone for the Academy. While it marks the first time a Black scholar has been elected Chair of BAM, Professor Harrison views the appointment as representing something much broader than personal recognition.
Reflecting on his election, he said:
“I am deeply honoured and humbled to have been elected Chair of the British Academy of Management. BAM has been my academic home for over fourteen years, and throughout that time I have been privileged to work alongside exceptional colleagues who are passionate about advancing management research, education, and practice.
I would like to sincerely thank the BAM community for the trust and confidence they have placed in me. This election is a privilege that I do not take lightly, and I am committed to serving our members with integrity, purpose, and collaboration. Leadership is never about one individual; it is about bringing people together around a shared vision. I look forward to working with our members, Fellows, volunteers, Special Interest Groups, partners, and stakeholders as we shape the next chapter of the Academy’s journey.
As someone whose academic journey began in Nigeria, this appointment is particularly meaningful. I hope it demonstrates that excellence, commitment, and service know no boundaries and that our learned societies are strengthened when they reflect the diversity of the communities they serve. I hope this moment inspires current and future scholars, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, to believe that leadership within our profession is both possible and attainable.
Leadership is not about one individual; it is about bringing people together around a shared vision. Together, we have an exciting opportunity to strengthen BAM’s influence, nurture the next generation of management scholars, deepen our international engagement, and ensure that management research continues to make a meaningful contribution to organisations, policymakers, and society”
Professor Harrison’s vision for BAM focuses on building an Academy that is increasingly collaborative, globally connected, and impactful. His priorities include growing and engaging the membership, strengthening BAM’s influence as a leading learned society, supporting academic career development, embedding equity, diversity, inclusion and representation across all aspects of the Academy, and expanding international collaborations that enhance both the visibility and relevance of management scholarship.
He is also passionate about ensuring that BAM continues to respond to the major challenges facing organisations and society. Under his leadership, the Academy will continue to champion research that addresses issues such as responsible leadership, sustainability, artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, organisational transformation, public policy, and the future of work, while creating greater opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and engagement with practitioners, policymakers, and industry.
Professor Harrison’s election carries particular significance for scholars from historically underrepresented communities. As the first Black Chair of the Academy, his appointment reflects the progress being made towards greater representation within academic leadership while demonstrating the value of creating pathways that enable talent from all backgrounds to flourish. He hopes that his election will encourage future generations of scholars to engage actively with learned societies, contribute to their academic communities, and aspire to leadership roles.
His appointment also reinforces the University of Greater Manchester’s growing reputation for leadership, research excellence, and global engagement. Through his work at the University and within BAM, Professor Harrison has consistently championed collaboration, capacity building, and inclusive leadership, helping to create opportunities for researchers and educators across the UK and internationally.
As he prepares to take office in January 2027, Professor Harrison will become only the nineteenth Chair in BAM’s history. His election marks the beginning of a new chapter for the Academy, one that seeks to honour its proud legacy while embracing innovation, inclusion, and global impact.
With a strong commitment to collaboration and service, he aims to ensure that BAM continues to be the leading voice for management scholarship, supporting a thriving academic community and delivering research that makes a lasting difference to organisations and society.
