Former East Dunbartonshire MP takes up new role

Leader of the Lib Dems for just four and a half months, the shortest tenure as leader of the party in history, she will take a role as a ‘visiting professor’ at Cranfield School of Management.

Jo, who was brought up in Milngavie, will work with the business school’s ‘Changing World of Work’ group, set up to examine the “implications of the changing work context on managing people and organisations”.

Under the Tory/Lib Dem coalition, Ms Swinson had a stint as a business minister between 2012 and 2015 before losing her seat to the SNP’s John Nicolson in the 2015 general election.

Following her relection to parliament in 2017, she became leader of the Lib Dems, then lost her seat again at the General Election in 2019 to the SNP’s Amy Callaghan.

Ms Swinson said she was “delighted” to be joining the university and said: “The world of work is changing rapidly and Covid-19 has sent that change into overdrive. How organisations adapt will determine their ability to survive and thrive.

“I’m delighted to be joining Cranfield School of Management and I’m looking forward to helping develop their thinking on issues I have championed throughout my career such as gender equality and the role of technology in the workplace.”

Professor Emma Parry, head of Cranfield’s Changing World of Work group, said: “I’m thrilled Jo Swinson is joining our group.

“Throughout her career she has championed equality and, as Business Minister, she was fundamental in bringing about change in the workplace through the introduction of shared parental leave.

“Jo will be a great addition to our team and I’m sure our clients and students will benefit from her experience and insight.”

Cranfield School of Management was ranked among the top European Business Schools by the Financial Times in 2017.