Alumni in the media April to June 2025

Here is your quarterly summary of some of the successes of Cranfield alumni:

• Viki Bell (Residential Executive Development Programme 2017) has been promoted to CEO at the Construction Equipment Association.
• Frederico De Magalhaes (PhD Manufacturing Technology 1983) CEO at Software Solutions company, Sisqual, is a guest on the podcast “The CEO is the limit”.
• Jose Munoz (Business Development Programme 2002) President and CEO at Hyundai is announced as the principal speaker at the 2025 FISITA World Mobility conference taking place in Barcelona in June.
• Alessia Gloder (MSc Thermal Power 2018) Director of Space Applications at Adaptronics is interviewed about her career in the Space industry.
• Seung Kim (PhD Design Machine Systems 1984) Is announced winner of the 2025 Samsung Ho-Am Prize for Engineering.
• Lei Ding (MSc Logistics and Supply Chain Management 2003) is elected Chairman of the Board at China Merchants South Oil.
• Martin Yanev (MSc Aerospace Dynamics 2018) is interviewed about his career in AI applications.
• Lolan Naicker (MSc Astronautics and Space Engineering 2010) wins an award for lunar water purification as part of the Aqualunar challenge.
• Nan Williams (Exec MBA 1989) is appointed as a new member to the Arts Council of Wales.
• Udai Patel (Business Growth and Development Programme 2015) CEO at Afro-Asian Insurance, speaks about why he joined the programme and the benefits it had to his growing business.
• Steve Lilley (MSc Air Transport 1998) is appointed Commercial Director at Regional and City Airports.
• Samiu Nuamah (MSc Process Systems Engineering 2009) is announced as Executive Director at The African Institute of Energy and Sustainability.
• Jonny Wates (MBA 2000) Director at the Wates Group, is interviewed after trialling the JCB Hydrogen generator.
• Oyinade Ogunade (MSc Finance and Management 2007) Chief Communications Officer at GTCO, Nigeria, features in an article about her influence and experience within African Finance and Corporate Communications.
• Kanat Sharlapaev (MSc Finance and Management 2006) is elected to the Board of Directors at Kazakhstan Fund and Stock Company, Samruk Kazna.
• Yiannis Stamoulis (Certificate in Computer Systems Engineering 1987) CEO at Greek Tech Company Mobiplus, speaks about the strengthening trade relations between Greece and Israel.
• Mitch Yockelson (PhD Shrivenham 2006) is guest speaker at the Australian Embassy in Washington DC, where he speaks about his research around the American “Doughboys” who fought under British command during WW1.
• Mogaji Kayode Ogunsola (Exec MBA 2004) Is appointed Chairman for North America at the OID, a good governance professional action group.
• Andrew Rhodes (MA Military Studies 2005) is appointed Managing Director at Munnelly Support Services.
• Kanat Sharlapaev (MSc Finance and Management 2006) is appointed to the Board of Directors at JSC National Managing Holdings.
• Air Vice Mashall Osichinaka Ubadike (MSc Aerospace Vehicle Design 2005, PhD School of Engineering 2009) becomes the first ever Professor of Aerospace to join the Nigerian Air Force.
• James Vowles (MSc Motorsport Engineering and Management 2001) Team Principal at Williams, features in article about his education and net worth.
• Aqeel Shamsul (MSc Astronautics and Space Engineering 2016, PhD Aerospace 2021) features in an article about his career as CEO and Co-Founder at Frontier Space.
• Robert Baltus (MSc Air Transport 1995) CEO of the European Business Aviation Association is interviewed about his career in the industry.
• Alice Mead, nee Midmer, (Exec MBA 2022) is appointed Head of the GWCT Allerton Project in Agriculture.
• Christian Rose (Finance in the Boardroom 2003) is appointed as a non-executive Director at Law firm, Blake Morgan.
• Stavriana Asprogiannidou (Exec MBA 2024) is announced as Managing Director at Howden Marine, the largest Insurance Broker in Greece.
• Restu Widiyantoro (MBA Defence 1999) is appointed President Director at PT Timah, Jakarta.
• Sarah Qureshi (MSc School of Engineering 2008, PhD Aerospace 2016) is interviewed about her career in Aerospace.
• Clement Denis (MSc Microsystems and Nanotechnology 2012) is announced as Chief Technical Officer at NIRI, a research organisation in nonwoven fabrics.
• Magdalena Solyga (MSc Biomedical Engineering 2015) Writes an article about how the brain detects surprises and how this affects our mental health.
• Ifechukwude Uwajeh (MSc Process Systems Engineering 2013, Exec MBA 2025) Managing Director at GreenMax Capital Group, features in episode 4 of the podcast series, The Energy Africa Café.
• Charles Ifedi (MBA 2007) is appointed CEO at Information and Communications Technology company, Inaks.
• Lucie Basch (MSc Logistics and Supply Chain Management 2014) Co-Founder of Too Good to Go, is interviewed about her work around sustainability.
• Yewande Akinsola (MSc Design and Sustainability 2012) is appointed to the panel of judges for the new £1 million Circular Electrical Fund.
• Alexandros Karydis (MSc Air Transport 1998) Has been appointed Deputy Governor of Airports and Waterways at the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority.
• Juan Pedro Aramburu (MSc Energy Systems and Thermal Processes 2013) is announced as Country Manager for Peru at Renewable Energy firm, Zelestra.
• Cristiana Pace (MSc Motorsport Engineering and Management 2003) talks about her drive to transform sustainability in sport.
• Farah Usmani (Short course – LEAD UNFPA 2012) Talks about her groundbreaking career at the UN.
• Kara Owen (MSc International Human Resources Management 2016) has been named as Britain’s next Ambassador to Ireland, she will take up the post from September.
• Walter Gontarek (Doctor of Business Administration 2017) is named Chairperson of the AI Advisory Board at Exelixi.
• Yuriko Kato (MSc by Research at Silsoe 1999) Opens a new café in Japan that aims to combine food and business, by creating a base for local entrepreneurs and start up companies.
• Andrew Cawthorne (MSc Astronautics and Space Engineering 2004) Features in an article about his journey to Managing Director with Surrey Satellite Technology.
• John Jarrard (Exec MBA 2024) is appointed by Pharos Architectural Controls as Regional Sales Manager for the Middle East.
• Akin Ambode (Executive Development Programme 2012) Former Lagos State Governor, is celebrated in an article marking his 61^st birthday.
• Allison Mais (MSc Manufacturing 2005) is promoted to COO at VM Investments, Jamaica.
• Antony Anderson (BEng Mechanical Engineering 1990 and MBA 1994) Becomes Jamaica’s newly appointed Ambassador to the USA.
• Leanne McCullough (Project Leadership Programme 2022) Is appointed to the Board of Directors for the Northern Ireland Police Fund.
• Eric Lundgren (MBA 1998) CEO at Brazilian Insurance firm, Generali, is named as a participant at CQCS, the largest Insurance conference in Latin America taking place in November.
• Jon Morrish MBA 1999) is elected President at Cembureau, the European Cement Association.
• Eddie Gray (Exec MBA 1990) has joined the Board of Directors at Botanical Solution Inc.
• Iyad Alattar (PhD Aerospace 2017) is announced Global IEQ and R&D Ambassador at Raven Delta Group.
• Naser Al-Sayegh (PhD Aerospace 2019 )Wins the Jaber Al-Ahmad Young Researcher award for Engineering Sciences.

If you've been featured in the media, don't forget to share your successes with us so we can include them in our quarterly roundup. Email our Alumni Communications team including a link to the website or press release.

Check out Alumni in the media January to March 2025 for more alumni in the news.