Jack Curran, former vice president of mergers and acquisitions at Textron Inc., is joining the University of Notre Dame in a newly created role as associate vice president of new business development.
Identified as a priority in the University’s refreshed strategic plan last year, the associate vice president of new business development will work to enhance the stability and growth of the regional community through strategic partnerships with Notre Dame. Curran will report to University Executive Vice President John Affleck-Graves.
A recent example of one such partnership is the Notre Dame Turbomachinery Laboratory, which involves the City of South Bend, the state of Indiana and multiple industry partners.
“We are fortunate to have Jack serve in this crucial position, and I am confident he will quickly make a positive impact on the University and in our community,” said Affleck-Graves. “Jack brings with him a broad set of skills in strategic planning and business development, and he also has extensive experience in identifying and creating business opportunities that foster growth.”
In this role, Curran will coordinate multidisciplinary functions to execute and advance economic development efforts that will have a positive impact on Notre Dame and the surrounding area. He will also work closely with Tim Sexton, Notre Dame’s associate vice president for public affairs, and the regional community on ways to promote economic development in the South Bend-Elkhart region.
Curran spent more than 20 years with Textron, a Fortune 500 multi-industry company with globally recognized brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna Aircraft and Beechcraft. From 1998 to 2014, he served as Textron’s vice president of mergers and acquisitions where he provided leadership through several strategic acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures and partnerships.
A native of Ithaca, New York, he graduated from Cornell University with a bachelor’s degree in economics and government. He received a Juris Doctor degree from Boston College Law School in 1980 and a master of laws degree in taxation from Boston University School of Law in 1985.