Jerry Cope, Honorary Doctor of the University
Jerry Cope is a public service business leader and former Chair of the LSBU Board of Governors, a role in which he stepped down from in May 2023.
Graduating with an MA in Maths from Cambridge University, Jerry began his career at Royal Mail. He became the youngest Director in the company's history at 33 and eventually became UK Managing Director.
During his tenure at Royal Mail, Jerry faced times of turmoil, including the Royal Mail strikes in the 90s. He displayed exemplary commitment to bringing people together, insisting on personally addressing customer concerns, a move that his office initially resisted. Despite the potential backlash, his actions earned him respect and fostered robust relationships with trade unions.
Under Jerry's leadership, Royal Mail experienced a remarkable turnaround. He introduced waterproof uniforms, improved the quality of service for next-day deliveries, and steered the company towards profitability for the first time in years.
Jerry is married with one son and lives in Crystal Palace, South London. He left Royal Mail to spend more time with his family and has since taken on various positions within the education, health and charity sectors.
His ability to unite people was apparent in his subsequent roles on the Prison Pay Review Body and NHS Review Body, as Jerry successfully led 14 unanimous reports for the Prime Minister and Secretary of State under both Labour and Conservative governments.
Jerry became Chair of the LSBU Board of Governors in 2015, helping reform and increase the diversity of the board. He championed historic initiatives like the conception of a Croydon campus and supported the Vice Chancellor in developing the LSBU Group.