International trade expert to lead Coventry University's enterprise team

Coventry University has appointed a new strategic leader to help grow its commercial activities in the UK and overseas.

Paul Noon OBE joins the University this week as the Pro-Vice Chancellor for Enterprise and Innovation to head up the team responsible for nurturing and marketing creative business ideas. The University’s Enterprise and Innovation Group, which Paul will be leading, supports the development of new and inventive companies across a range of industry sectors. Current initiatives include a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle project and a new prototype drug testing model for the pharmaceutical industry.
 
Paul’s remit will include developing strategies for future growth and income generation, managing partnerships with key business and political contacts, building international business relationships and oversight of intellectual property and knowledge transfer activities.
 
Paul brings a wealth of experience from his previous role as West Midlands Regional Director for UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), the non-ministerial government department for international business and overseas investment in the UK.
 
Prior to joining UKTI, Paul was director of trade for Australia and New Zealand for four years. He also served as an international diplomat for the Foreign Office where he was awarded an OBE in 2008 for his work in the Congo. 

Paul Noon said: 

I am thrilled to be joining a dynamic and forward thinking institution like Coventry University. It stands out as place of high quality education, research and business engagement. It also has a well established reputation for entrepreneurial activities. 

My priorities will be to build on and further internationalise the success of the University over recent years and to extend the reach of our business focussed research and commercial activities. The University has an ambitious strategy to grow on the world stage and I am looking forward to being part of that.

John Latham, Vice Chancellor of Coventry University, said: 

We’re delighted that Paul is joining us. Our success in the recent past has been dependent upon the excellent people we have working for us and that will continue to be the case as we move forward. Paul has an outstanding track record in building international business partnerships and he is undoubtedly a valuable addition to our team.