NUI Maynooth has announced the appointment of Dublin native, Dr Martin Curley, Global Director of IT Innovation and Research at Intel, as a Professor to the University. Dr. Curley brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience in the IT sector and his appointment further strengthens NUI Maynooth’s place at the forefront of University-Industry collaboration in Europe.
The University also announced that world renowned finance Professor Gregory Connor, has joined the Economics, Finance and Accounting Department of the University from the London School of Economics where he was a Professor of Finance for over six years.
As Professor of Technology and Business Innovation Dr Curley will lead advanced research in the area of IT Innovation and entrepreneurship, working to improve predictability, probability and profitability from IT Innovation investments. Dr Curley has an extensive body of work in this area and has published a number of books on the subject including “Deploying IT for Business Value” and “Managing Information Technology for Business Value”. He has also given more than 100 lectures on all five continents on the subject.
In his current role at Intel, Dr Curley is responsible for the development and adoption of emerging technologies and Innovation Practice in support of new business solutions. Previously he has held IT engineering and senior management positions at General Electric and Philips.
Dr Curley was earlier today awarded a Doctor of Philosophy (Arts) by NUI Maynooth for his thesis, “The IT-CMF, a theory for continuously improving the value delivered from IT capability”. He has a degree in Electronic Engineering and a Masters in Business Studies from University College Dublin.
Professor Gregory Connor is one of the world’s foremost academics in the area of risk management systems and portfolio risk management and has joined the Economics, Finance and Accounting Department of the University. He has previously been the Director of Research at BARRA Inc. and was Assistant Professor of Finance at the University of California at Berkley and at Northwestern University.
NUI Maynooth President Professor John Hughes said, “Dr Curley and Professor Connor are recognised as the leading thinkers in their fields. Their additions will continue the commitment of this University to bringing in the best and most respected individuals to carry out research and help our students prepare for their future careers. NUI Maynooth is committed to providing a first class education to all who attend our university”.
NUI Maynooth and Intel already have strong established links through the Innovation Value Institute (IVI), of which Dr Curley is a Co-Director. IVI was set up in 2006 as a partnership between the college and the Intel Information Technology Innovation Centre in Leixlip. It is a multi-disciplinary research and education institute which develops frameworks to help organisations achieve sustainable economic value from IT and to quantify and understand the true business value of strategic IT investments. Among the companies currently working with IVI to inform their own IT investments and those of their clients are Intel, Chevron, The Boston Consulting Group, ESB and Ernst &Young.
Originating in 1795, NUI Maynooth is Ireland’s second oldest university. The university has seen significant growth over the last decade – from 3,400 students in 1997 to 8,400 registered students in 2007. Current CAO figures show that NUI Maynooth is Irelands fastest growing University for the second year running. NUI Maynooth has been awarded University of the Year 2008 by the Sunday Times University Guide and is ranked 4th in the overall league of Irish Universities by the Sunday Times.