Professor Angus Laing, Dean of the School of Business and Economics at Loughborough University, has been appointed as the next chairman of the Association of Business Schools (ABS).

The ABS is the representative body and authoritative voice for all the leading business schools of UK universities, higher education institutions and independent management colleges, which collectively provide business and management education for over 250,000 students a year. The ABS also works with similar organisations in Europe and around the world to influence those who have an involvement or interest in business and management education.

Of his appointment, Professor Laing said: "As Chair of the ABS, I look forward to working with policy makers and leading business organisations to ensure that the UK business school community plays a central role in the supporting the development of the UK economy.

"Business schools are uniquely placed to contribute to the economic recovery by producing the highly skilled graduates required by business and by enhancing business performance through leading edge research.

"They must also work closely with colleagues in the science, technology, engineering and medical disciplines to support high-value manufacturing and commercialisation of technological innovation which will help to rebalance the economy."

Professor Laing, who is only the second person with a marketing background ever to hold the post, will formally take up the chairmanship from 1 November.