Michael Ward, Managing Director of Harrods and Chairman at Walpole luxury group, returned to give his annual Visiting Professorship talk this week. This event is always a highlight in the campus calendar, and this year was no different. Tuke Hall, Regent's 300-seat event space at the heart of the campus, was packed with students, staff and alumni.
Michael is a prominent figure in the realm of luxury, holding the esteemed position of Chairman at Walpole, the prestigious official sector body representing the UK luxury industry.
His influence extends further as he joined the V&A Corporate Advisory Board in August 2020, leveraging his expertise to contribute to the museum's strategic decisions. In 2022, he was appointed as a trustee of the Royal Opera House, where he actively serves on the Finance and Commercial Committee, lending his financial acumen to support this cultural institution.
Michael's talk this year was led by the aspirational message that "everything is possible", something which has proven true in Michael's career. After a period of senior directorship roles in retail, Michael was invited to join Harrods as Managing Director in 2005. During his time at Harrods, he has overseen programmes of huge growth and expansion within the luxury department store, as well as the transition to new ownership by the Qatar Investment Authority.
At this event, students were inspired by Michael's data-driven analysis of audiences within the luxury industry, with a laser focus on creating unique experiences that continue to drive growth and innovation at Harrods.
About Visiting Professorships
Every year Regent's invites senior leaders from global brands to speak to students, as part of our collaboration that delivers a connected, industry-led education. These events are exclusively for Regent's students, staff and alumni.
This event was the penultimate of our Visiting Professorships series for this academic year which also included talks from Kelly Kowal, Chief Platform Officer at FARFETCH, Adam Guy, Managing Director at Laurent-Perrier UK, and Tom Athron, CEO of Fortnum & Mason. Tomorrow will see our final Visiting Professorship event with William Oliver, Chief Brand Officer at dunhill.