Derek Handley appointed to Executive Professor role
Derek Handley, one of New Zealand’s most well-known entrepreneurs, has taken up an Adjunct Executive Professorship at AUT. As Executive Professor, Derek Handley will work with Dr Geoff Perry, Dean of AUT’s Business School.
Handley is CEO of The B Team, and Chairman of the recently launched mobile advertising company Snakk and Derek McCormack, AUT’s Vice Chancellor, sees his Executive Professorship as offering great benefits to AUT.
“Derek’s contribution to business and innovation is inspirational and his insights will be invaluable to our students’ thinking about enterprises or working in business. He is able to provide both a New Zealand and a global perspective. His reputation in international business and entrepreneurship brings much to the University” says Vice Chancellor Derek McCormack.
Derek Handley worked alongside Sir Richard Branson and Jochen Zeitz to start the B Team, which is a global leadership collective aimed at making business work better for people and the planet in order to meet the challenges of the 21st century. He is also a Sir Peter Blake Trust Leader, KEA World Class New Zealander and was the Ernst & Young ‘Young Entrepreneur of the Year’ in 2009. He co-founded global mobile marketing company The Hyperfactory, selling it to media giant Meredith Corporation in 2010. He has founded and helped build multiple international start-up companies including Snakk Media which listed on the NZ Stock Exchange in 2013.
Derek’s first book, Heart to Start, is now on sale. It is the true story of how he conceived big ideas from New Zealand and launched them to the world. To find out more about the book and follow Derek’s latest adventures, visit his blog: www.derekhandley.org