He has recently been awarded the Professor Kenneth Black Distinguished Service Award by the International Insurance Society, the largest insurance industry business network in the world. The award recognises his academic work in the fields of insurance and risk and his contribution to the growth and development of the Society in his role as UK ambassador.

Professor Adams said: “I was a senior lecturer at Bath twelve years ago and now I’m returning to the University to set up a new Centre for Strategic Risk. The vision is to create a multi-disciplinary research unit that produces rigorous academic research. In the current economic climate, and particularly following the recent global financial crisis, the commercial and public policy implications of academic views on risk management are more salient than ever.

“The Centre will draw on expertise already within the School of Management. It was ranked fifth in the UK for management research in the RAE 2008 so the quality of work at Bath is well placed to help the Centre flourish.

“I’m hoping to set up collaborations across the University, in engineering, economics and psychology for example, to achieve our goal. This multidisciplinary approach will provide different perspectives on risk management problems and so contribute to effective commercial and public policy decisions at both the national and international level.

“In my own research, I’m currently working with colleagues in Hong Kong to explore the link between insurance and corporate governance in China, and researchers at Sweden’s Umeǻ University to examine the economic institutional development of the Swedish insurance market.”

Four doctoral scholars are already based at the Centre researching the use of reserving and re-insurance to manage earnings for cost purposes; the profitability of micro insurance schemes in developing countries; the link between property insurance and capital cost, and the role of reinsurance and cost of capital in the non-life sector.

The Centre has prestigious academic and industry supporters including the Willis Research Network, UK Government Actuary’s Department, the Wharton School, and RGA, one of the world’s largest life re-insurers.

“My wife and I have lived in Keynsham near Bath since my first appointment here and we make full use of the restaurants, pub and theatres that Bath has to offer. We’re also keen supporters of Bath Rugby. Returning to Bath is like returning home. The city is a great place to live and work. It’s ‘next door’ to Bristol and not too distant from London and other major commercial centres in the UK. The surrounding countryside is also very beautiful and it’s a great place to raise a family.”

He is one of 12 leading academics set to join the University as part of a strategic investment in research and teaching excellence across all faculties and disciplines.