Heriot-Watt University’s Edinburgh Business School has appointed international businesswoman, human resource specialist and journalist Heather McGregor to its top post.

McGregor is perhaps best known for her ‘Mrs Moneypenny’ column in the Financial Times and her other media work.

McGregor becomes executive dean at Edinburgh Business School, which has campuses in Edinburgh, Dubai and Malaysia.

The school said she will bring “a wealth of global business and career development experience that has included working with and developing the careers of some of the world’s leading political, business and financial figures.”

As a visiting professor and lecturer, McGregor has taught at a number of business schools around the world on subjects including employability and the development of social and human capital.

McGregor is a champion of diversity in the workplace.

She was a co-founder of the 30% Club which campaigns to increase the number of women on company boards, and founded the award-winning Taylor Bennett Foundation programme helping to promote the employment of ethnic minority graduates.

“We are extremely pleased to have attracted such a high calibre figure as Professor McGregor,” said Richard Williams, principal and vice-chancellor of Heriot-Watt University.

“Her impressive breadth of experience in the workplace, development of business leaders and her global perspective will provide a unique insight to Edinburgh Business School, one that is highly relevant to its mission and its global portfolio.

“Professor McGregor’s approach is a perfect fit for our students and alumni, many of whom are already employed and aspire to key leadership roles.

“Her appointment will ensure the school can build on its strong track record in delivering highly-flexible and valued business qualifications around the world, continuing to adapt and develop so as to best meet the future needs of our students and their employing organisations.”

McGregor is also a commentator, broadcaster and author who has written extensively for the Financial Times, The Times and Management Today.

She has significant experience in international capital markets, with particular expertise in human resources and change management networks.

McGregor said: “Edinburgh Business School is part of a thriving, world-class university and I am incredibly excited at being given the opportunity to build on the success the school has already achieved, working with colleagues within the school and across Heriot-Watt, as well as with our 23 Learning Partners, to give students the very best experience and value, both during their studies and throughout their careers.

“The Edinburgh Business School community includes a vast network of both active students and alumni across the world, and I look forward to meeting and supporting as many of them as I can.

“We want to ensure that management education remains accessible to people across the globe, regardless of their working hours or family situation.

“At the same time, we will be working hard to ensure that the Edinburgh Business School community is able to benefit from access to the many areas of world-class expertise that exist across the wider Heriot-Watt University.”

McGregor joined the school on September 1 and will initially work on a part-time basis before taking up the role on a full-time basis in January.

Shonaig Macpherson, chair of Edinburgh Business School, welcomed the appointment of McGregor and paid tribute to the school’s founder, Professor Keith Lumsden: “This is a significant appointment and reflects the ambitious vision and spirit of the business school founded by Professor Lumsden more than 20 years ago.

“He had the foresight to recognise the need to create a flexible Master of Business Administration programme that didn’t require students to interrupt their careers.

“As a result, working with a team of dedicated colleagues, Professor Lumsden has gone on to lead the exceptional global expansion of the school.

“He leaves a lasting legacy and we wish him all the very best wishes for the future while we look forward to Professor McGregor building on his achievements to-date and taking the school into a new era of even greater success.”