NEWS

Photo note: To download a photo of Jones, see end of the release.

Jones, successful international CEO, returning to Carolina as Kenan-Flagler Business School dean

CHAPEL HILL -- W.S. (Steve) Jones, an internationally recognized chief executive officer, is returning home to North Carolina and his alma mater after 14 years abroad to become dean of Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The appointment, approved today (July 24) by the UNC Board of Trustees, takes effect Aug. 1.

Jones brings to Carolina international experience in developing strategy, leading change and building organizational capability in numerous industries and challenging circumstances, while delivering outstanding value to shareholders. He spent the past decade as CEO of Suncorp Metway Ltd., one of Australia’s 25 largest companies, and as managing director of ANZ Banking Group N.Z. Ltd., one of New Zealand’s top companies. He was a management consultant with McKinsey & Co., a worldwide strategy-consulting firm, for six years.

A native of Elkin, N.C., Jones graduated in 1974 from Carolina with a bachelor’s degree in economics and was a Morehead Scholar. In 1978, he earned his master’s of business administration degree with distinction from Harvard Business School.

"Steve Jones appreciates the power of a Carolina education to transform young lives," said Chancellor James Moeser. "He understands the needs and challenges of global businesses in ways that will help strengthen our overall international aspirations. Steve knows what industry leaders expect from graduates of top business schools like Kenan-Flagler. He cares passionately about serving his home state and the people of North Carolina. He will bring his international experience and perspective to bear in ways that contribute positively to North Carolina’s economy and business community."

Jones said serving as dean is one way he can repay North Carolina for his UNC education. "In my professional career, the best thing that has happened to me by a wide margin was winning the Morehead and coming to UNC," he said. "It gave a boost to my confidence and opened my eyes to

possibilities that would never have occurred to me. It stretched and challenged me – intellectually, culturally and personally.

"On returning to the U.S. after nearly 15 years abroad, I was not looking for another CEO position in the corporate world," Jones said. "To be dean of UNC Kenan-Flagler is an honor. My Carolina experience had a profound impact on me and on my life. Now, I want to make a difference and contribution. My goal is to lead UNC Kenan-Flagler to the next level of excellence. Accomplishing that will be my way of contributing to the school and the state. This is not a job. It is a labor of love."

Kenan-Flagler, one of the nation’s oldest accredited business schools, offers top-ranked programs for students, executives and companies. They include the MBA program, three executive MBA programs, executive education, bachelor of science in business administration, master of accounting and Ph.D. programs. The school is known for the progressive ideas and excellent people skills of its graduates; a top research faculty and the Frank Hawkins Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise, a hub of collaboration for leaders in business, government and academia. The latest program, OneMBA, establishes a new standard for global executive MBA education.

Jones was CEO of Suncorp in Brisbane, Queensland, for nearly six years through September 2002. Suncorp is Australia’s sixth largest bank and second largest general insurer. Suncorp was formed in 1996 when the Queensland state government sold Suncorp Insurance and the QIDC bank to Metway Bank to privatize its interests and thwart an out-of-state takeover bid for Metway. As CEO, Jones led the integration and strategy for Suncorp, named regional bank of the year three times during his tenure.

Before Suncorp, Jones was with ANZ, one of Australia’s four major banks, for eight years as a consultant and then as an executive in Australia and New Zealand. He first went to Australia as a consultant with McKinsey & Co., where he helped clients develop growth strategies, improve operations and manage merger integration.

Jones received the Australian government’s 2003 Centenary Medal for service to business and commerce through banking and finance. In 2001, he was named one of Australia’s "Top 50" CEOs by The Bulletin magazine and among the "Top 30 True Leaders" by the Australian Financial Review magazine. He was one of three CEOs cited for efforts to promote diversity and affirmative action in a 2000 survey of 25 Australian financial services companies. Queensland University of Technology also awarded him an honorary doctorate for business leadership and community service. He was active in philanthropic work for disadvantaged youth in Australia and New Zealand.

Jones succeeds Dr. Robert Sullivan, now founding dean of the new Graduate Management School at the University of California, San Diego. Jones was recommended to Provost Robert Shelton and Moeser by a search committee chaired by William McCoy of Franklin Street Partners and former interim UNC chancellor.

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Photo URLs: http://www.unc.edu/news/pics/faculty/deans/jones_steve1.jpg and http://www.unc.edu/news/pics/faculty/deans/jones_steve2.jpg

Kenan-Flagler Business School contact: Allison Adams, (919) 962-7235, aadams@unc.edu
News Services contact: Mike McFarland, (919) 962-8593, mike_mcfarland@unc.edu