The Productivity Institute appoints Professor Jun Du as new Managing Director

Leadership appointment reinforces long-term commitment to productivity research and impact 

The Productivity Institute (TPI) has appointed Jun Du as our new Managing Director, effective 1 August 2026. She will lead TPI from its headquarters at Alliance Manchester Business School, part of The University of Manchester. 

Professor Du’s appointment marks a continuation of TPI’s work, with plans in place to build on its established research, policy engagement and business-facing activity in the years ahead. 

New Managing Director brings strong research expertise 

Professor Du is a Professor of Economics and joins from Aston University, where she founded and directed the Centre for Business Prosperity. A leading expert on UK trade, productivity and the Chinese economy, her research focuses on firm performance, international trade and industrial transformation. She brings extensive experience engaging with policymakers, government departments and industry. 

Professor Du’s work is widely recognised for its direct relevance to policy and practice. She has led major research programmes on UK trade, innovation and productivity, with findings cited in national strategies and used by government departments including the Department for Business and Trade and the Scottish Government. Her research combines advanced micro-data analysis with a strong focus on real-time policy questions – from the impacts of Brexit and global supply chain restructuring to how firms navigate geoeconomic shifts and industrial transformation. She has held advisory and expert roles with government and international organisations, and is a frequent commentator on trade policy and the UK’s post-Brexit global strategy. 

Professor Jun Du said:

“The UK’s productivity challenge cannot be separated from what is happening in the global economy – trade disruption, supply chain restructuring and the race for technological leadership are reshaping what productivity means for British firms and workers. TPI has built an exceptional research platform and a nationwide network that reaches from Whitehall to local economies. I want to deepen that work, connecting firm-level evidence with the policy decisions that matter most for growth and living standards.” 

Building on established foundations 

Professor Du succeeds Bart van Ark, who has led TPI since it was established in September 2020. Under his leadership, the Institute has become a recognised voice in the UK’s productivity landscape, bringing together academic research, policy insight and business engagement. Bart will continue to work with the Institute as a Senior Fellow and will remain at Alliance Manchester Business School as Professor of Productivity Studies. 

This leadership transition marks an important step forward in TPI’s development. TPI will continue to strengthen and evolve its core programmes, including its research themes. It will also maintain its nationwide Productivity Forums and Productivity Lab, ensuring that its work remains relevant to real-world challenges and opportunities at regional, national and international levels. 

Professor Ken McPhail, Head of Alliance Manchester Business School, said: 

“I am delighted to welcome Jun Du as Director of TPI at a moment when raising productivity is central to the UK’s economic renewal. Jun brings outstanding leadership and a proven ability to translate rigorous, policy‑relevant research into real-world impact. Her credibility with policymakers, businesses and academic partners alike positions TPI to play a leading role in shaping the national productivity agenda, and I look forward to working with her as the Institute enters this important next phase.” 

Professor Fiona Devine, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at The University of Manchester, said: 

“Bart van Ark has played a pivotal role in establishing The Productivity Institute as a leading centre for productivity research and engagement. Jun Du’s appointment builds on those strong foundations, bringing deep academic expertise and policy insight to support the Institute’s continued development and impact.” 

Damien Smith, Deputy Director of Research (Economics) at the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), said: 

“ESRC was key to the creation of The Productivity Institute six years ago, looking at new ways to address what is one of the key challenges – maybe the key challenge – of our time. ESRC is delighted to see the Institute moving forward under strong new leadership.” 

Continuing a national and international role 

With its base at Alliance Manchester Business School, TPI will remain anchored in Manchester while maintaining its national reach in working with key partners at other UK universities and other national and overseas institutions. Our work will continue to connect research excellence with policy and practice, supporting efforts to improve productivity, economic performance and living standards across the UK.