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Prof Neil Towers

Professor Of Enterprise & Supply Chain Management

Internationally recognised expert in agile digital retail marketing, supply chain management and small business growth.

Biography

I am an internationally recognised expert in agile digital retail marketing, supply chain management, small business growth and applied research giving significant impact to both businesses and higher education with over 35 years of extensive experience. I am Editor-in-Chief of a leading European journal, have wide experience of Lead roles in Research Leadership, am an Affiliate Professor of a leading French Business School, have been Keynote Speaker at a number of international conferences and am an Expert Adviser for several international bodies. I also make frequent appearances on various media outlets and have authored a number of sector policy reports and numerous papers in retail operations, supply chain and agility processes.

Qualifications

  • PhD: “Production Activity Control systems within Small and Medium sized Enterprises supporting Supply Chain requirements”, University of Manchester, 2004
  • PGCert: Academic Practice, University of Manchester, 2006
  • BSc: Physical Sciences and Biology, Oxford Polytechnic, 1979

Accreditation

FCILT, FCMI, FCIM

Membership of professional bodies

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

Chartered Management Institute

Chartered Institute of Marketing

Teaching & Research

Teaching

Teaching has included part time and full time students at undergraduate and postgraduate levels in the subject areas of Marketing, Operations Management and Supply Chain Management. Also teach in Research Methodology for Inductive methods.

Research

Currently Principle-Investigator for EU Erasmus+ project value €998k over 36 months ‘Growing Indonesia – a Triangular Approach’ with 4 EU & & 7 Indonesian partners and Co-Investigator ‘Building Disaster Resilience’ value €998k over 36 months with 4 EU & & 8 Indonesian partners. His current research investigates supply chain management in smart cities, the impact of phenomenological methodology development in research, and understanding how Millennial shoppers decide what to buy in digitally connected unseen journeys. He has a track record of successful PhD completions and doctoral supervision, and has been Editor-in-Chief of a leading European journal since 2009.

Publications

More publications from Prof Neil Towers can be found in the Research Repository.

External responsibilities

Media work with BBC local radio, BBC TV Points West and ITV South West.

Subject for media interview

Supply Chain Management, Retail online and stores, Fashion Marketing, Business

Professional positions

Editor-in-Chief for the International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management

External examining

Regent University, London, 2015 to date, MSc Buying and Merchandise Management

Dublin Institute of Technology, 2015 to date, PG Cert Buying