John Bessant

Professor John Bessant holds the Chair in Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of Exeter, where he is also Research Director. With over 25 years of experience in technology and innovation management, his work spans research, teaching, and consultancy. He has served as an advisor to national governments and international bodies such as the United Nations, The World Bank, and the OECD.

• PhD in Innovation Studies
• BSc in Psychology
• BSc in Chemical Engineering

His research focuses on technological innovation management, emphasizing structures and behaviors enabling organizational renewal through product and process innovation. He explores continuous improvement, radical change, and tools/techniques for building sustainable innovation capabilities. Recent work investigates innovation in social value-oriented organizations (public sector, NGOs) and inter-organizational networks.

He has authored over 30 books, including Managing Innovation (6th ed., 2018), Entrepreneurship (2018), and Riding the Innovation Wave (2017), alongside numerous articles. He has contributed to the field through the development of innovation toolkits and resources, covering creativity, digital innovation, lean methodologies, and user-driven approaches.

• Fellowship with the Advanced Institute for Management Research (2003)
• Fellow of the British Academy of Management (2003)