Global CEO swaps France for EIT post

HIGH-FLYER: EIT new Business and Computing head of school Sabine Hoffmann. Picture supplied

A jet-setting businesswoman has swapped her global chief executive role to help foster the next generation of business leaders at the Eastern Institute of Technology.

Sabine Hoffmann has stepped into the role of head of the schools of business and computing after years of working in management and leadership roles in business and higher education sectors in the Middle East, Asia and Europe.

Sabine said she was excited and honoured to join EIT.

“It's great to see that the institute prioritises the delivery of high-in-demand skills for industry and is committed to providing opportunities for learners of all ages to grow and achieve educational and career success.”

Sabine holds a Masters degree from Germany and a PhD from Macquarie University (Australia).

Before joining EIT, she served as the chief executive of REN International, a global leadership and management institute in Nice (France).

Prior to that, she was Associate Professor and Dean of the College of Business Administration at the American University of the Middle East in Kuwait.

As the new Head of School, she was also delighted to reveal EIT had just received NZQA approval for its new cutting-edge Digital Business and Logistics and Supply Chain Management postgraduate and Master programmes.

“The digital revolution is changing industries, businesses and workplaces everywhere. Equipping our students with relevant skills will ensure that our graduates are highly sought after.”

Sabine said successful education providers needed to ensure lifelong employability of their graduates.

To this end, she was particularly interested in building and strengthening local and international partnerships with employers, industry and research communities.

Sabine is based at the Taradale campus but one of the first things she did when she started in late December was to visit the Gisborne campus.

She will travel to Gisborne on a regular basis as she is responsible for the business courses here.