Entrepreneurial leader Mark Logan, former Chief Entrepreneurial Adviser to the Scottish Government and author of the Scottish Technology Ecosystem Review, has been appointed Visiting Professor at The Glasgow School of Art (GSA).
A key figure in Scotland’s startup ecosystem and former COO of unicorn tech firm Skyscanner, Logan will support GSA in advancing Glasgow’s emerging status as a Creative and Performance Supercluster – a globally significant hub of innovation in the arts and technology, underpinned by globally respected institutions such as The Glasgow School of Art and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
“The Glasgow School of Art is delighted to appoint Mark Logan as Visiting Professor, acknowledging his pioneering work in the field of technology and now addressing the potential of the creative and cultural assets of Glasgow,” commented Professor Irene McAra-McWilliam OBE, Deputy Director and Vice Principal (Research & Innovation).
“Mark’s expertise, applied in the context of a world-leading art school, and working collaboratively with our civic partners, will catalyse the latent potential of Glasgow’s creative eco-system. The common goal is to connect and stimulate that potential in a creative Supercluster. This will support our GSA graduates to realise their ambitions for the future as part of a new entrepreneurial collective and help to amplify Glasgow’s creative industries at a key moment for the economy.
“The Glasgow School of Art looks forward to working with Professor Logan and partners in the city in the realisation of this vision.”
Mark was a senior figure of one of Scotland’s first “unicorn” businesses, Edinburgh-based Skyscanner, which reached a valuation of $1 billion before being acquired by the global company Trip.com Group for $1.75bn in 2016. He has since advised numerous high-growth tech businesses.
“I’m delighted to be appointed as a Visiting Professor at The Glasgow School of Art, which enjoys a worldwide reputation for innovation and excellence.” said Mark Logan. “The UK Government’s recently launched industrial strategy highlights the huge economic potential of our creative industries. Glasgow’s Creative and Performance Supercluster will be in the vanguard of realising that potential, and I’m very excited to contribute to that effort.”
Welcoming Mark’s appointment, The Glasgow School of Art’s Director and Principal Professor Penny Macbeth commented: “Creative people and creative industries are central to society and the economy – highly specialist, working across disciplines and industries, contributing to all parts of the economy and to how we live. That’s why institutions like The Glasgow School of Art were established in 1845 during the industrial revolution, specifically to harness the potential of creative people to address society’s needs.
“Today we are at a similar juncture – in the recently published UK industrial strategy, the creative industries have finally been recognised as one of eight growth sectors of the economy. Importantly for us, it specifically identifies Glasgow as one of the UK’s most important creative and cultural cities, with one of the largest clusters of creative talent across design, architecture, visual arts and screen and broadcast production.
“Mark Logan’s appointment will help us to drive forward, in partnership with everyone who wants to make the most of Glasgow’s, and Scotland’s, huge potential.”