The University of Leicester has named a new CEO to lead Space Park Leicester, its £100 million science and innovation park.
The University has appointed Will Wells as chief executive officer of Space Park Leicester, who will take up the role from his current position as director of commercialisation and knowledge exchange within the research and enterprise division.
Working at the juncture between business, universities and government, Will’s career has spanned senior roles in global corporations (Anglo-American and Cummins), the Civil Service and high growth SMEs.
Will led on the commercial and government engagement themes of Space Park Leicester’s development from the initial concept through to its delivery. Nationally he has been the architect and executive lead on major national innovation programmes, including the Space Research Innovation Network & Technology (SPRINT), VentureVersity and, latterly, Forging Beyond. He is director of the European Space Agency Business Incubation Centre Leicester. He has an MBA and is Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute.
He takes on leadership of Space Park Leicester as professor Richard Ambrosi moves on from the role of executive director to focus his attention on the spinout company Perpetual Atomics, while continuing in his role as professor of Space Instrumentation and Space Nuclear Power Systems at Leicester.
Will Wells, CEO of Space Park Leicester, said: “I am absolutely delighted to be leading Space Park Leicester in this next phase of its development and working with colleagues to deliver on our vision for a world leading beacon of Research, Knowledge Exchange and Innovation for the whole institution.
“I am passionate about research and building partnerships that deliver impactful and inclusive growth for the University and our region. Beyond this, Space Park can lay claim to global reach and reputation, aligned with our international prominence in Space and Earth Observation.”
