Des Laffey

Des Laffey is a Senior Lecturer in E-Commerce at the Kent Business School, University of Kent, with over 25 years of teaching experience across multiple universities and countries. He specializes in digital marketing, online gambling, search engines, and new venture creation. He pioneered the MA in E-Commerce program at Kent and serves as Programme Director for the MSc Marketing. His research focuses on electronic markets, crowdfunding, and digital innovation, with notable recognition including being ranked 9th globally in Information Systems Research (2007-2009).

Dr. Laffey’s research has been widely adopted in academic curricula, such as his paper on paid search being required reading in U.S. business schools. He has secured research funding for projects like 'The Start-Up Bank Relationship' and 'Digital Health Campaigns.' He actively contributes to academic communities through editorial roles, conference presentations, and invited seminars at institutions like Oxford and Manchester universities.

His teaching excellence was acknowledged with a University of Kent Faculty Teaching Prize (2011) for integrating Twitter into marketing courses. He has supervised four PhD students exploring topics like social enterprise dynamics and B2B service quality.

Professionally, Laffey has provided corporate training and consultancy in sectors like finance and telecommunications. He has served as an external examiner at multiple universities, including Surrey and Nottingham Trent. His work bridges academic research and practical applications, emphasizing digital transformation and innovation in business ecosystems.