His remote birthplace did not prevent him from becoming a great and useful asset to Ghana and the rest of the world.
He was born in a small farming and fishing community called Ohawu-Abor in the Ketu North District of the Volta Region of Ghana.
The young Frank Forbes-Menson spent his early years in the Central and Ashanti regions of Ghana.
Starting from a modest Obuasi Secondary Technical and New Edubiasi Secondary School in Adansi South District, both in the Ashanti Region, he has broken the glass ceilings to become one of the powerful forces in the field of banking and finance, business management and education.
Professor Forbes-Menson joined the academia in 2009/10 to transfer his industry professional/practical knowledge gained over two decades of City of London and Swiss practice.
Since October 2019, he has been appointed as the MBA Capstone Research Co-Ordinator and Senior Lecturer at the York St John University (London Campus).
Some of his achievements chalked are-Top rated lecturer and Online Delivery Lecturer by Students’ Survey Forum conducted mid Semester; and Co-Ordinator and Pioneer PhD recruiter for the London Campus accredited with 11 new PhD Students recruited so far for the London Campus.
He is also a Lecturer & Business Research Project Module Leader at UWL/BucksNew/London College of Science & Technology Luton, UK Partnership.
Prof Forbes-Menson lectures Business Management at the University of West London programmes.
He achieved over 95+ Average student pass rates in all the six modules he taught as the Business Management lecturer for both the University of West London and Buckinghamshire New University programmes.
Additionally, Prof Forbes-Menson is Senior Lecturer and (PhD Supervisor & Viva Voce Examiner) at the Cardiff Met University &London School of Commerce since August 2014.
He keeps delivering high quality supervision to allocated Doctoral students at each stage of their research to include guidance, support, viva preparation, reading and commenting on draft materials and virtual and face-to-face meetings with the students and supervisory teams.
The seasoned investment banker, among other things helps students plan their research project, monitor their progress, anticipate their needs and suggest solutions for problems when they arise.
As the Senior Lecturer (HPL) at Bristol Business School, UWE from December 2014 to July 2015, he was responsible for the supervision of MSc International Financial Management research students while contributing heavily to the Global Centre of Finance Consultancy activities.
He also guided students in Research Methods, marking presentations, dissertations and processing students’ scores at the same school.
Prof Forbes-Menson also organised Postgraduate workshops, tutorials, seminars and guest speaker series for the benefit of students and colleagues in the areas of Methods of Enquiry, Information for Business and Credit Analysis techniques.
He used to organise research cum consultancy coaching and mentoring services through the Centre for Global Financial Markets.
Furthermore, from October 2011 to September.2012, the hardworking Prof Forbes-Menson was a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Accounting & Finance, Bedfordshire Business School, University of Bedfordshire, Luton.
His duties were mainly administrative, managerial, course reviews, team co-ordination with considerable personal teaching hours.
Prof Forbes-Menson is also responsible for the management and conduct of specialist Financial Markets and Economic research for blue-chip financial institutions in the City of London and the Emerging Markets.
He works in collaboration with Doctorate Training Centres to supervise MBA and PhD research students involved in the Capital Markets, Finance and Banking sector studies, among others.
Back home in Ghana, Prof Forbes-Menson was a Senior Lecturer/Consultant – Applied Corporate Finance (MBA) at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) Business School.
During that period between October 2009 to July 2011), his duties involved designing and lecturing a new MBA course in Applied Corporate Finance as well as Co-ordinating internal income generation activities through research grant bidding and Consultancy Services for the Business School.
While in Ghana, Prof Forbes-Menson lectured a number of Ghanaian universities and colleges on short term contracts such as Ashesi University (as one of the founding adjunct lecturers of the Business faculty) and the University of Professional Studies where he served briefly as the Acting Director of the Business Development Directorate..
Distinguished banking career
He is a very experienced banker with an extensive background in retail/corporate and investment banking, branch and network management, within the NatWest and Royal Bank of Scotland Group and other UK blue-chip financial institutions over the last 20 years.
He held Senior Management positions in JPMorganChaseFlemings, Zurich Banking Network, the Dunbar Banking Group, Faulkner International Independent Financial Advisers as Director of the BENELUX region.
Prof Forbes-Menson delivers consistent tried and tested strategic planning, organisation, co-ordination, and leadership from the front to team members, resulting in successful target achievements.
He had 10 years of consistent performance as the Executive Principal (Director) of Mayfair Portfolio Management, an FSA registered brokerage/consultancy firm of independent financial advisers based in the City of London with Offshore agency operations in Geneva, Switzerland.
He has been the Executive Principal/Senior Research Fellow at the Oxford International Institute of Economics and Financial Markets Research, Oxford since 2012.
Education and qualifications
Prof Forbes-Menson is a Viva Voce Examiner – Trained and qualified for the Chairmanship of the PhD Examination Board- London School of Commerce (LSC) & Cardiff Met University, 2017.
He is Fellow at the Higher Education Academy, UK (2012) as well as DBA (Business Administration) Banking and Finance Major; (2007–2010); Atlantic International University, USA.
Prof Forbes-Menson holds MBA in Financial Strategy, (1999-2001); Open University; UK.
He holds Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) Business Admin (1997/8) – Westminster University, UK
He holds MSc Applied Economics; (1991-1992) – University of Oxford,(Oriel College), UK..
Prof Forbes-Menson also holds PGDip in International Negotiations; (1989-90); Norwegian School of Management, Oslo, Norway.
He holds BA (Hons) Economics & Sociology & Diploma in Education; (1985 -1989); University of Cape Coast, Ghana.
Postgraduate research and thesis supervision
Director of Studies Supervision Roles
3 Finalist PhD Candidates currently under supervision for the LSC/ Cardiff Met University Research degrees course
9 PhD Finalists Successful Completions
65 MSc/MBA/MBM Student Dissertations supervised fully and submitted before the deadline
Working Papers
Examining the correlation between Capital Structure and Profitability in Rural Banking-The cases of Kakum and Gomoa Rural Banks in the Central Region of Ghana (SSRN Working Paper)
Critical examination of the role of Accountants in the Efficient Management of Public sector accounts in Ghana- Case study of the Ghana Parliamentary Public Accounts Select Committee Reports
Financing Non-Traditional Exports in Ghana-The Role of Ghana Government sponsored Agencies
Application of Capital Budgeting Techniques in the Non-Bank Financial Institutions in Ghana- The cases of Teachers Fund and Unique Trust Financial Services
Credit Risk Management in the Banking and Non-Banking Financial Services Sectors of Ghana
Micro-Financing of Alternative Livelihoods for Fishermen in the Ahanta West District of Ghana
Professional qualifications and memberships
- Fellowship of HEA ( 2012)
- Associate Member, British Computer Society (Chartered Inst. of IT, PRINCE2 UK)
By Masahudu Ankiilu Kunateh, African Eye Report