After ten years as the Director of the University’s Research and Innovation Services‚ Dr Tony Raven has informed the University of his intention to step down in May 2011. Tony will continue his association with the University as a non-executive Director of Southampton Asset Management‚ the University’s spin out portfolio management company. It is also anticipated that Tony will continue to work as an advisor to the University on a range of national and international projects‚ including spin out company development.
During his ten years Tony established the University’s outstanding reputation for successful technology transfer. He pioneered with the University new models of company incubation through the SETsquared partnership, and University investment funds that are now seen internationally as benchmarks for the sector.
Commenting on the Dr Raven’s achievements, Vice Chancellor Professor Don Nutbeam said “Tony’s contribution to the University has been enormous over the past decade. He has clearly established Southampton as a world leader in the commercial exploitation of its research. I am delighted that the University will continue to benefit from Tony’s wisdom and experience in the coming years.”
Mr Don Spalinger, the University’s Director of Corporate Relations, will take over interim responsibility for the management of Research and Innovation Services. Don, who joined the University in 2007 has extensive commercial experience as a Managing Vice President in the global Gartner consultancy group, senior management positions in several multi-national manufacturers, as well as, starting five companies of his own including Southampton Photonics, a spin out from the University’s Optoelectronics Research Centre that is now part of the Trumpf GmbH group.