STAFF HIGHLIGHT
Nothing is impossible
We met Robert Chater to look back over his varied career at Hult and discuss his retirement plans .
After serving as COO , Bob has worked as Hult ’ s Executive Director since 2010 . His wide-ranging role has taken him to cities all around the world – Dubai , London , New York , and San Francisco in the past year alone – and has introduced him to a variety of different cultures . He also regularly deals with the world ’ s top business leaders and politicians . It was at the beginning of his time as Executive Director that Bob says he achieved his greatest professional success : ensuring that Hult became the first private school in the U . K . to be awarded Quality Assurance Authority ( QAA ) recognition . Having personally hand-picked the staff , faculty , and students who took part in the inspection process , he considers this achievement the perfect example of hands-on leadership .
Robert Chater joined Hult nine years ago in 2007 , after leading Huron University USA in London ’ s due diligence process when the two institutions merged . Appointed Chief Operating Officer ( COO ) for his first three years , Bob drove many initiatives that shape who we are today . These projects included the launch of Hult campuses in Dubai , London , and San Francisco , along with the implementation of the Global Campus Rotation program .
“ It was an intoxicating experience to help build [ a new campus ] from scratch ,” Bob recalls . “ Meeting President Stephen Hodges in Hong Kong on day one to strategize over where to open the next campus , then finding myself looking at real estate in San Francisco just five days later .”
Although he achieved remarkable success as COO , it wasn ’ t easy . “ I was given the mandate ‘ go build a global business school ,’ but there was no manual to follow ,” Bob explains . “ We simply went and did it . Taking on Hult ’ s core values – passion , entrepreneurial spirit , attention to detail – meant we could never be afraid of making mistakes .”
Although Bob never got the chance to fulfill his boyhood dream of playing professional football for Leicester or Blackpool , he found other ways to distinguish himself ; as an accountant , he strove to break the mold and generate creative solutions to business problems , a mindset that would serve him well for the rest of his career . After seeing Hult mature both as an academic institution and as a business over the past decade , Bob says he has learned one major lesson : “ nothing is impossible .” He cites Hult ’ s rapid global expansion and the success of the Hult Prize as two significant recent turning points that will propel us to a brighter future .
As for what comes next , Bob hopes to stay involved in an external capacity . As someone who has seen the school grow since 2007 , he also hopes to be given the project of charting Hult ’ s recent history . However , he is most looking forward to pursuing his other passions – football ( specifically going to Anfield to watch the Reds win the Premier League ), photography , and playing guitar – as well as spending quality time with his wife and family .
You can get in touch with Bob and keep track of his adventures on LinkedIn or via email at robert . chater @ hult . edu
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