Neil Towers

Neil Towers is an internationally recognized expert in agile digital retail marketing, supply chain management, and small business growth. He holds the position of Affiliate Professor at a leading French Business School and serves as Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management. His research focuses on smart cities supply chains, disaster resilience frameworks, and millennial consumer decision-making processes. He has led major EU-funded projects, including €998k initiatives on disaster resilience and small business growth in Indonesia. Towers is a frequent media commentator on BBC and ITV, addressing supply chain, retail, and fashion marketing topics.

Education:

• PhD: Production Activity Control Systems in SMEs, University of Manchester (2004)
• PGCert in Academic Practice, University of Manchester (2006)
• BSc in Physical Sciences and Biology, Oxford Polytechnic (1979)

Research Interests: Phenomenological methodology development, retail operations optimization, CSR in fashion supply chains, and entrepreneurial capacity-building in higher education. His work emphasizes bridging academic research with practical business solutions, particularly in agile strategies and disaster resilience.

Awards & Recognition:

• Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (FCILT)
• Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute (FCMI)
• Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (FCIM)

Grants & Advising: Principal Investigator for two EU Erasmus+ projects totaling €1.996M, supervising doctoral candidates, and advising international bodies on retail and supply chain strategies. His work includes collaborations with 11+ institutions across Europe and Indonesia.

Media & Outreach: Regular appearances on BBC radio and TV, ITV South West, and media interviews on supply chain resilience, fashion retail, and business strategy. Authored policy reports and sector guidelines for industry stakeholders.