Imperial College Business School has appointed Joël McConnell as Executive Director for Marketing, Recruitment and Admissions.

Imperial College Business School is very well-positioned to effectively manage the training and development needs of future leaders. Joël McConnell Executive Director for Marketing, Recruitment and Admissions

Joël McConnell, formerly the Director of Europe and Central Asia at IE Business School in Madrid, will join the London-based business school at the end of February 2019. In his new role he will head up international marketing, recruitment and admissions for the School’s postgraduate programmes, coordinating the overall strategy for attracting the most qualified candidates.

Enhancing the candidate journey

In addition, he'll also be managing the rollout of the school's new customer relationship management system, designed to enhance the candidate journey, from an applicant’s initial interest in Imperial’s programmes right through to course completion and onward as graduates re-enter the workforce.

Joël believes that working together with the School’s student, alumni and careers support services is vital for ensuring a coordinated approach to providing students with a truly valuable educational experience academically, personally and professionally. 

Joël said: “Imperial College Business School is very well-positioned to effectively manage the training and development needs of future leaders. The School’s solid reputation for technological expertise and management education, tied to a university globally renowned for its excellence in STEM disciplines, makes it a very attractive option for the next generation of global business professionals.

“London offers unbeatable diversity, access to world-class off-campus activities, provides impressive opportunities to tap into new industries, and remains a hub for the technology and finance sectors, among many others.”

International experience

Joël brings more than 10 years of international business education experience to his new position, with particular expertise in international recruitment in both the Asia Pacific and European regions. Whilst at IE Business School, Joël also led the university's Financial Aid department, managing large scholarship endowments, key partnerships such as the institution’s Fulbright Scholars program, and other support schemes for students including those provided by international financial institutions.

Prior to this Joël worked in financial services in both Canada and the United States, and actively pursued his own education. He holds a number of business school qualifications; he completed his MBA at IE Business School as well as an Executive Masters in Finance, and went on to undertake further executive courses at Cambridge Judge Business School, Chicago Booth School of Business and Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford, making him well-placed to understand the needs of candidates for postgraduate business degree programmes.

Technology-driven world

Leila Guerra, Associate Dean of Imperial College Business School, has welcomed the news of Joël’s appointment.

Leila said: “In a technology-driven world, Business Schools need to adapt their strategies to continue attracting top global candidates who aspire to transform their professional and personal journeys, as well as make an impact on business and society. Imperial College Business School has just launched its new ten-year strategy, focused on the intersection of business and technology.

Joël brings with him the global expertise and an innovative mindset to help us reach our ambitious goals. His experience spans America, Europe and Asia, three current drivers of international business. We look forward to welcoming a like-minded champion of digital innovation and life-long learning.”

Imperial College Business School has become an established leader in providing students with innovative, future-focused education programmes, developed through the School’s EdTech Lab, including the use of AI on its remote learning platforms, holograms in lectures, and programmes developed to tackle the evolution of business, such as an online Masters in Business Analytics, and an MSc in Financial Technology.