Dubai: 30 June, 2008 - The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation today announced it has established a fully endowed chair at London Business School.. The holder of the Chair titled the 'Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Professor of Innovation', will contribute to the school's efforts to develop breakthrough initiatives and shape ambitious leaders who will significantly impact the future.

The Foundation's initiative complements its mission to support research, education and innovation through partnering with renowned global institutions.

Mohammad AlGergawi, Chairman, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation, said: "The Foundation constantly explores partnership opportunities with prestigious academic institutions that boast a worldwide reputation for excellence.

"We are glad to contribute to programmes offered by London Business School, which aim to generate new thought leaders with the ability to usher in a new era of globalized business environment. The new chair seeks to provide the youth with the expertise and knowledge that is imperative for leading innovative business".

Professor Zeger Degraeve has been appointed as the first chair for London Business School's primary branded programme overseas.

Professor Degraeve serves as Faculty Advisor for the London Business School's research activities. He is also the Faculty Director of the School's educational programmes. As Chair, Professor Degraeve will leverage his expertise to guide professionals in astute decision making and risk-taking, He will also educate them on ways to be accountable for the outcomes. His current research focuses on the creation of organisational culture that will stimulate innovation and experimentation.

Robin Buchanan, Dean of London Business School, said: "Through its contribution to an endowed Chair at London Business School, the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation has demonstrated its commitment to securing access to world-class education for students in the region."

"We welcome this new affiliation with the Foundation as the initiative will ensure the School's Dubai Centre's successes continue long into the future, not only for the benefit of thousands of our global students and their companies but also, crucially, and in line with the Foundation's greater ambitions, for the benefit of the peoples of this region."

Launched in May 2007 the AED37 billion (US$10 billion) Foundation was mandated to enhance the lives of communities in the Arab world by 2015. Pursuing a vision to develop competent future leaders, it aims to create a knowledge-based society through knowledge creation, culture, as well as entrepreneurship and employment generation.

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About the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation
The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation has been launched as a personal initiative of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Announced by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed at the World Economic Forum on the Middle East 2007 in the Dead Sea, Jordan with an endowment of US $10 billion, the Foundation targets to develop the knowledge and human capabilities of the Arab world and introduce a future generation of thought leaders in the region. It aims to achieve its strategic objectives through a wide array of pioneering projects and programmes in three main strategic areas: knowledge and education, culture, and entrepreneurship.

About London Business School
London Business School's purpose is to develop break-through insights and successful leaders that have a positive impact on business around the world. Our Vision is to be the pre-eminent global business school, nurturing talent and advancing knowledge in a multi-national, multicultural environment. Founded in 1964, the School graduated over 800 MBAs, Executive MBAs, Masters in Finance, Sloan Fellows and PhDs from over 70 countries last year. The School's executive education department serves over 3,000 executives on its programmes every year. London Business School is based in the most accessible and international city in the world and is one of only two UK business schools to have twice been awarded the highest research rating of five-star (5*), by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), confirming the School as a centre of world-class research in business and management. www.london.edu 

For further information please contact:
Hillary Choularton
PR Officer
London Business School
tel: +44 (0)20 7000 7252
email: hchoularton@london.edu

Sultan Al Jesmi
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation
T: +9714 3175681
F: +9714 3293333
E: sultan.aljesmi@mbrfoundation.ae

Mohammed Abdelmonem
A'Sidrah Public Affairs
D: + 971 4 3642196     
T: +971 4 364 2320
F: +971 4 3688004
E:mohammed.abdelmonem@asidrah.ae

© Press Release 2008