James Baker to Step Down as CEO of Graphene@Manchester
Company - People | May 29, 2025 | Business Cloud

James Baker, CEO of Graphene@Manchester, plans to step down and transition over the next 18 months as he nears his 60th birthday in January next year. Baker, who has been instrumental in Manchester's burgeoning graphene industry, intends to remain active in the field through his newly established consultancy, Baker Graphene, supporting startups and scale-ups in the sector. Having been at the University of Manchester for 11 years, Baker aims to continue contributing to graphene commercialisation and leverage his extensive industry experience. His departure signifies a significant transition in Manchester's graphene sector, with implications for the commercialisation and scale-up efforts in the field.
Sectors
- Advanced Materials
- Consulting Services
Geography
- United Kingdom – The article focuses on Manchester's pioneering work in the graphene industry, situated in the UK.
Industry
- Advanced Materials – The article discusses graphene, a 2D material, and its commercial applications, relevant to the Advanced Materials sector.
- Consulting Services – James Baker's establishment of a consultancy, Baker Graphene, is pertinent to the Consulting Services industry.
Financials
Participants
Name | Role | Type | Description |
---|---|---|---|
James Baker | CEO of Graphene@Manchester | Person | A key figure in the commercialisation of graphene, planning to transition from his current role. |
Graphene@Manchester | Organisation for commercialising graphene | Company | Based at The University of Manchester, focuses on graphene products and industry collaboration. |
Baker Graphene | Consultancy business | Company | Founded by James Baker to support graphene startups and scale-ups. |
Dr. Vivek Koncherry | CEO of Graphene Innovations Manchester | Person | A collaborator with James Baker, known as 'Manchester's answer to Elon Musk'. |
Graphene Innovations Manchester | Graphene scale-up enterprise | Company | A company working closely with James Baker to drive the graphene agenda in Manchester. |