Professor John Latham CBE

John is Vice-Chancellor and CEO of the Coventry University Group. John is a double graduate of the University and has a background in information technology and telecommunications. He previously worked for several private sector organisations including JHP Group, Jaguar Cars and BT - including a period as a sponsored Research Fellow based at Martlesham Research Labs, Ipswich. In 2015, John was awarded an Honorary Lifetime Fellowship of the British Computer Society for his services to the IT industry.

John has held high-profile roles at regional, national and European levels promoting innovation, technology and economic development. To that end he is an Advisor to the Australian based Software provider TechnologyOne and also Chair’s the Universities UK/JISC Software Negotiations and Strategy Group. He is a Director for the University Alliance mission group of universities and is a Non-Executive Director of Qualifications Wales. John is additionally an advisory board member of the UK’s National Growth Board which is responsible for the oversight of the remaining UK based European Structural Funds Programme and most recently became a Member for the Integrated Care Partnership (ICP) for the Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care System. Among his other various roles he is also a Panel Member for the Singapore Governments Home Team Academy Operation. Earlier in his careeer he has spent periods of time working overseas including roles in France, Spain, Portugal and Germany as well as being a long-term advisor to the European Commission.

John is an Extraordinary Professor in the area of enterprise and entrepreneurship at Stellenbosch University, South Africa, where in 2019 he received an Honorary Doctorate for his services to UK Higher Education. In the same year he was recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours with a CBE for his Services to Higher Education.

As a Non-Executive Director of the HEE Board, John Chaired the Audit and Risk Committee and was a member of the Remuneration Committee. He worked in partnership with HEE’s Regional Director in the East of England to ensure the Board maintained strong links with regional activities. Following the transition of HEE to NHSE, John is now a Non-Executive Director for the NHSE Workforce Training and Education Committee.

Most recently, John has been appointed by the Minister for Health and Social Care as an Independent Panel Member on the Advisory Assessment Panels for the Recruitment of members to NHS Bodies.