Prof. Alex Linley - Founding Director 

Alex Linley is the Founding Director of CAPP. He is recognised internationally as a leading expert on positive psychology and its applications. In practice, Alex works as an organisational consultant bringing to bear his expertise and practical insight in the applications of strengths psychology to organisational development and people practices. He works in the areas of recruitment, coaching, leadership development, engagement, performance management, organisational restructure, and strategy development. Clients include Aviva, Allied Irish Bank, BAE Systems, Birmingham City Council, Boehringer Ingelheim, Ernst & Young, Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, Northern Foods and Unilever. Alex also provides research consultancy services to organisations in support of product development and market positioning, with one such assignment leading to his being positioned as the “Professor of Pleasure” for Magnum ice cream! 

Alex has written, co-written, or edited more than 130 research papers and book chapters, and six books, including Positive Psychology in Practice (Wiley, 2004) and The Strengths Book (CAPP Press, 2010), a #1 bestseller in the Human Resource Management category. He has served as Associate Editor of the Encyclopaedia of Positive Psychology and the Journal of Positive Psychology, and is currently Co-Editor of the International Coaching Psychology Review. Alex is a highly sought-after speaker, having delivered over 50 keynote presentations around the world on topics including strengths, positive psychology, coaching, leadership, human resource management, and organisational performance.

Alex holds a first class BSc (Hons) Psychology degree from the University of Leicester, having graduated with the Sluckin Prize, and a PhD in Psychology from the University of Warwick. He is a Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society (BPS) and is an accredited business coach, having qualified from the Meyler Campbell Business Coach™ programme. He has held the position of Visiting Professor in Psychology at the University of Leicester since 2007.

Alex wrote the business case that helped launch the National Talent Bank, an initiative of the Council on Social Action, chaired by the Prime Minister, and launched at Downing Street in July 2009. He is currently serving as a member of the Steering Committee for the National Talent Bank.

For details of Alex’s publications download the pdf.

For details of his forthcoming presentations, click here.