WBS appoints Executive Director to head up London MBA programmes

Another chapter has opened at Warwick Business School’s London base with the appointment of an Executive Director of London MBA programmes.

Dimitrios Spyridonidis, Professor of Leadership and Innovation, is taking up the new role as the School’s portfolio of MBA courses at WBS London at The Shard continues to grow in scale, reputation and diversity.  

“This is about visible leadership at the heart of our London base. From this iconic space on the 17th floor, we’re not just teaching leaders; we’re helping them reimagine what it means to lead with purpose, agility, and impact in a rapidly changing world,” said Professor Spyridonidis.

“It’s about shaping Change Makers who turn insight into impact. Our London MBA programmes provide a platform to connect world-class research with real-world challenges and to cultivate a community of leaders making a difference across sectors and societies. In doing so, they are fostering innovation in how we teach, learn, and lead for the common good.

“In essence, my role is to strengthen our London base as a lifelong learning hub – a place where our MBA students, alumni, and partners come together to exchange ideas, refresh their perspectives, and co-create solutions for a complex world.

“It’s about ensuring that Warwick’s research, teaching, and community spirit continue to drive transformation well beyond the classroom.”

Since opening its doors 10 years ago, the WBS London at The Shard has become the base for the School’s Executive MBA (London), Global Online MBA (London) and the Accelerator MBA (London). A two-year part-time course, the Accelerator MBA was launched in September 2023 to blend face-to-face teaching with online modules to fit around aspiring leaders’ careers.

WBS London has also become a centre for thought leadership where leaders from Government, business, health and technology have come together to explore cross-sector solutions to global issues, such as climate equity, digital transformation and entrepreneurship.

 “With the help of London’s global connections, The Shard offers a dynamic platform for our MBA community to engage with the heart of London’s global business ecosystem – a space where ideas, leadership, and innovation converge to shape the next generation of impact-driven leaders,” said Professor Spyridonidis.

“My role as Executive Director of London MBA programmes is an exciting opportunity to build on Warwick’s tradition of innovation and impact.

“Our MBA students are ambitious, globally minded, and purpose-led. My focus is to ensure that every aspect of their Warwick experience – from the classroom to the City – stretches their thinking, expands their networks, and empowers them to translate learning into real-world impact.

“Global cities like London mirror the tensions leaders face — growth versus mobility, innovation versus inclusion, local identity versus global reach. Our MBA participants don’t just study these paradoxes; they experience and navigate them, building the mindset and agility needed to lead in a challenging world.”

Learning at The Shard

Executive Education open courses, the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) programme for senior executives, and the Warwick Enterprise Start-up programme, are also run from The Shard.

Andy Lockett, Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship and Dean of WBS, said: “Congratulations to Dimitrios. His appointment as Executive Director for the MBA programmes at The Shard reflects our School’s strategic commitment to strengthening our overall presence in London.

“Over the past 10 years, The Shard base has become a symbol of our desire to deliver cutting-edge research and create a dynamic learning environment that reflects the School’s global ambitions.

"And we’re excited about the future as we continue to equip the next generation of Change Makers with the skills, mindset, and values to shape a better world.”

The Executive MBA at Warwick Business School has been ranked eighth in the world for career progression by the Financial Times while higher education analysts QS have placed it in the world’s top 10.

The Global Online MBA, meanwhile, has been ranked second in the UK and third in the world in the Financial Times’ Global Online MBA ranking. It is also rated third in the world by the new QS Rankings.

Learn more about Warwick Business School’s Change Makers. 

Discover WBS in London.