SES’ Business Performance Director Jonathan Sims appointed visiting professor at Durham University Business School
We are proud to announce that Dr Jonathan Sims, Business Performance Director, has been appointed Visiting Professor at Durham University Business School, one of the UK’s leading academic institutions.
Jonathan has served as a Visiting Fellow at Durham since 2022, contributing to research, course development, and an international academic programme between Durham University Business School and Emlyon Business School in Paris, where he is also an Affiliate Professor. His new appointment recognises the depth of his expertise and the impact of his academic contributions over the last four years.
The appointment also strengthens SES’s growing reputation for innovation and leadership. Having a Visiting Professor embedded within the senior leadership team provides SES with direct access to world-class academic insights, supporting evidence-based decision-making and advancing best practice across the business.
This milestone comes as SES continues to deepen its strategic partnership with Durham University, formalised in 2025. The collaboration advances SES’s connection to globally recognised research and executive education at a time when Durham University has been named University of the Year 2026, ranking among the top three universities in the UK.
It is a great honour to be appointed Visiting Professor at Durham University Business School. It is an opportunity to deepen the partnership between SES and Durham, bringing together academic rigour and real-world impact.
“I look forward to collaborating with faculty and students to explore how thoughtful leadership and evidence-based practice can shape performance-driven, sustainable, and value-centred organisations.”
Dr Jonathan Sims
Business Performance Director, SES
Durham University Business School is delighted to welcome Dr Jonathan Sims as a Visiting Professor. Jonathan brings outstanding expertise and a strong track record of bridging rigorous scholarship with real-world impact. His appointment strengthens our commitment to thought leadership, partnership, and practice-informed education, and we look forward to working closely with him to enrich our research, teaching, and engagement with business and policy communities.”
Professor Kieran Jude Fernandes
Executive Dean of the Faculty of Business at Durham University Business School
SES Executive Managing Director Rob Clifford congratulated Dr Sims on the achievement, noting the significance of the appointment for SES and its continued dedication to excellence.
