Bayes Business School academics recognised for exceptional contributions
Bayes Business School (formerly Cass) has awarded promotions to several faculty member in recognition of their scholarly excellence and exceptional contributions to research, teaching, and service.
Professorships have been awarded to Giacinta Cestone, Professor of Finance; Sonia Falconieri, Professor of Finance; Ioannis Kyriakou, Professor of Actuarial Finance; Nick Motson, Professor of Finance; and Stefania Zerbinati, Professor of Entrepreneurship.
Florian Lücker has been promoted to Reader in Supply Chain Management., with Simone Krummaker and Natasa Todorovic Zrilic have been promoted to Associate Professor of Insurance and Associate Professor of Finance respectively.
Professor André Spicer, Dean of Bayes Business School, said:
“We are delighted to announce the promotions of some wonderful colleagues.
“These promotions reflect the excellence of teaching and research here at Bayes, as well as the outstanding individual contributions that each academic has made to their field and the world of academia.
“These well-deserved promotions recognise years of exceptional service and contributions to Bayes and the broader community.
“Congratulations to our five new Professors, two new Associate Professors and our newest Reader for their achievements. I hope it’s the next step of many in their academic journeys!”
See below for further details on each newly promoted academic.
Professor Giacinta Cestone – Professor of Finance
Professor Giacinta Cestone works at the intersection of corporate finance, labour economics and industrial organisation. Her papers have been published in 4* journals in economics and finance, including the Review of Economic Studies, the Journal of Finance, and the Journal of Financial Economics. As a recognised expert in finance and competition, she is a member of the Economic Advisory Group on Competition Policy at the European Commission. In Professor Cestone’s role as Finance PhD Director, she has mentored and supported over 30 students, introduced major improvements in the programme, and overseen three very successful job market seasons for Bayes' PhD students.
Professor Cestone said:
"I enjoy working at Bayes. The common sense of purpose within the Faculty of Finance and the daily interaction with my colleagues have made my academic work more pleasant and productive.
“The diversity of ideas and the openness to debate here at Bayes make us all better and smarter. I have also been privileged to work as a Finance PhD Director and as a supervisor with impressive doctoral students: this is fun, stimulating and rewarding."
Professor Sonia Falconieri – Professor of Finance
Professor Sonia Falconieri’s most recent research focuses on gender diversity in corporate finance. Her work on gender balance initiatives has not only been published in highly ranked journals but also attracted significant media attention, such as People Management and Forbes among others. In 2019, she contributed to the prestigious Hampton-Alexander Review which tracked the progress of female representation in the boards of FTSE350 firms.
In addition to her research, Professor Falconieri’s work as Course Director of the MSc in Finance in the past five years has been instrumental in consolidating the programme’s standing in the FT Global ranking.
Professor Falconieri said:
“Bayes has been my academic home for many years now. I have had the privilege to work with incredible colleagues in a very stimulating research environment. This has been truly invaluable to me.
“For the past six years I have had the privilege to lead the Master’s in Finance which is a role I very much enjoyed and that has giving me the opportunity to connect with brilliant students and alumni. I am very proud of the programme standing in the Financial Times’ Global Ranking where it currently sits 22nd.”
Professor Ioannis Kyriakou – Professor of Actuarial Finance
Professor Ioannis Kyriakou’s research builds on the application of stochastic modelling to long-standing, topical problems in investment strategies for long-term savers, derivatives, risk management and commodities price modelling, to name a few. He has numerous publications in top journals, has worked on practical problems in tourism and manufacturing, and has been a member of research assessment panels overseas.
In his role as Course Director for the MSc in Actuarial Science and MSc in Actuarial Management., Professor Kyriakou has worked to update the curriculum to align with modern trends. He also serves on City’s Educational Quality Committee. His teaching on the Numerical Methods module provides students with the skills they need for future employment.
Professor Kyriakou said:
“Since my early student years, my time at Bayes has been transformative, anchoring this place as an integral part of my life.
“Being part of the Bayes community fills me with pride and I feel privileged to be able to actively contribute to the operations of my Faculty and School and serve City’s core principles with dedication and discipline.
This is an ongoing process and there is much still to learn. After all, Thomas Bayes taught us that constantly updating our beliefs in proportion to new evidence brings us closer to the truth. I am ready for the journey that lies ahead.”
Professor Nick Motson – Professor of Finance
Professor Nick Motson has spent more than 40 per cent of his life at Bayes, first joining in 1988 as an undergraduate Banking & International Finance student, then returning in 2005 to pursue his PhD following a career as an interest rate derivatives trader.
He joined the faculty full-time in 2009 and his research interests are in asset management, particularly alternative investments. Having experienced teaching during his PhD, he discovered that his true passion was education. He has taught extensively across programmes and formats, winning awards at school and university level for the quality of his teaching. He served as Associate Dean for the MSc programme from 2016 to 2021, overseeing significant growth in the programme and then leading the pandemic response.
When not researching or in the classroom, Professor Motson consults for asset managers, banks and lawyers, most recently as an expert witness in the US LIBOR manipulation civil cases.
Professor Motson said:
“Bayes has been an important part of my life since I was 18 years old.
“The inspirational teaching and advice that I received from my professors as an undergraduate helped me forge a successful career in the City and since returning to Bayes in 2005 I have strived to do the same for my students.
"I am grateful to the colleagues and students who helped me develop my research and teaching skills and look forward to continuing to work with them for many years to come.”
Professor Stefania Zerbinati – Professor of Entrepreneurship
Professor Stefania Zerbinati’s research examines entrepreneurial behaviour in diverse contexts, including venture capital firms, universities, and local government. She has published in the world’s leading journals, including the Academy of Management Journal, Organization Science, Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal, and Journal of Business Venturing.
Professor Zerbinati led the MSc in Entrepreneurship degree and developed a range of innovative new modules, as well as a mentorship network of entrepreneurs. She is the founder of the online Museum of Entrepreneurship, which is a repository of entrepreneurial stories.
Professor Zerbinati said:
“I joined Bayes Business School in 2012 as a senior lecturer to teach Entrepreneurship 101 and develop a business plan competition for our students.
“I have had the great privilege to introduce new courses and explore innovative teaching methods making my classes fun and inspiring through Lego, marshmallows and spaghetti!
“I am grateful to Bayes for the support in creating the Museum of Entrepreneurship (MoE), an online repository of entrepreneurs’ stories, which proved to be a key tool for students’ engagement and experiential learning, and allowed them to develop professional skills, learn to step out of their comfort zones, and connect to real entrepreneurs.”
Dr Florian Lücker – Reader in Supply Chain Management
Dr Florian Lücker’s research examines risk in global supply chains and supply chain finance with the aim of developing insights into factors that contribute to supply chain resilience. His work includes papers published in Production & Operations Management, International Journal of Operations & Production Management, and Decision Sciences.
He teaches core modules across BSc, MSc, MBA, and PhD programmes at Bayes and is currently serving as Course Director for the MSc in International Business.
Dr Lücker said:
“My research is about better understanding how to manage risks in global supply chains. I am grateful to Bayes for providing the resources to pursue my interests through research, teaching and impact activities.
“I feel fortunate to work at an institution where we have such a collegial work atmosphere and I look forward to working with my colleagues and friends together in the future.”
Dr Ivana Raonic – Associate Professor of Finance
Dr Ivana Raonic has extensive experience of leading courses and programmes at undergraduate, masters, MBA, and executive education levels. As a course director of MSc in International Accounting and Finance she has had a pivotal role in the programme’s development and innovation.
Dr Raonic's research interest is in financial reporting quality and capital markets, and she has published in top journals including European Accounting Review, Journal of Business Finance and Accounting, Abacus, and Journal of Accounting, Auditing and Finance. Dr Raonic also sits on editorial boards of several accounting journals, and has held numerous visiting positions including at HEC Paris Business School, EDHEC Business School, and University of Siena.
Dr Raonic said:
"Since joining Bayes as a young scholar in 2004 I have been very fortunate to work with outstanding and welcoming colleagues.
"Bayes nurtures an open, energising and positive environment which has stimulated my research and inspired me to excel as an academic.
"Teaching and interacting with Bayes students is a great joy and I feel privileged and proud to be able to contribute to their knowledge journey and professional careers."
Dr Simone Krummaker – Associate Professor of Insurance
Dr Simone Krummaker is an insurance scholar who is passionate about bridging the gap between practice and theory and has developed a diverse and global network in both industry and academia. This has led to invitations for consultancy/advisory and research projects around the world. In her time as Course Director of the MSc Insurance & Risk Management, she was responsible for multiple innovations, including the introduction of the Insurance Company Simulation.
Since Dr Krummaker’s accession to her current role as Associate Dean for the Specialist Master’s programme at Bayes, she has initiated a review of the entire MSc portfolio and led the transition to a digitally enhanced learning and teaching model.
Dr Krummaker said:
“Since joining Bayes in 2018, my journey has been defined by collaborations with inspiring academics, students, and practitioners. Having been a Course Director and now the Associate Dean overseeing 26 MSc Programmes.
"I am pleased to see that I have an impact on the strategy and quality of learning and teaching. And I am grateful that I can further foster the connection and exchange between theory and practice with my research in the area of risk and insurance."
Dr Natasa Todorovic Zrilic – Associate Professor of Finance
Dr Natasa Todorovic Zrilic holds a PhD from Bayes, where she joined as a lecturer in 2000. Her research interest is in empirical asset management, and she is an Associate Editor at the European Journal of Finance. She is passionate about teaching and holds two Teaching Excellence Awards. Dr Zrilic regularly contributes to Executive Education and was the Chief Examiner for Fund Management at the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investments. She has extensive MSc admissions and course directorship experience.
She is currently Director of the PG Diploma in Public Financial Asset Management programme, run in partnership with the World Bank and Milken Institute.
Dr Zrilic said:
“I have been at Bayes from the start of my academic career.
“I am grateful for all the opportunities given over the years that have helped me grow and develop my academic interests, skills and professional network.
"At Bayes, I feel empowered to create impact as an educator and motivated to innovate in my research. My journey would not have been the same without continuous support and encouragement from my wonderful, inspiring colleagues, many of whom I am proud to call friends.”