Chidiebere (Chidi) is a Professor in Human Resource Management at King’s Business School. His research spans a broad range of topics including job quality, employment relations, workplace values, business ethics, responsible leadership, well-being, and performance. Recently, he has focused on the employment experiences of informal workers in LMICs, exploring strategies and policies for sustainable development. He is committed to advancing the United Nations' SDGs through his research and professional activities.

Chidi’s research interests converge around four key themes:

• Strategic HRM and employee well-being - Investigating the alignment of HR strategies with employees' psychological well-being.
• Business ethics and social responsibility - Exploring how organizations, leaders, and managers can create healthier, ethical, and more sustainable jobs for workers.
• Managing diversity in organizations - Promoting the need for more inclusive organizational cultures.
• Global perspectives on decent work - Examining the complexities of informal work in global contexts.

His research is widely published in top-tier journals such as the Journal of Management, Human Relations, Journal of Management Studies, Human Resource Management, Journal of Organizational Behaviour, Human Resource Management Journal, and Journal of Vocational Behaviour. 

His work has also been featured in reputable practitioner and media outlets, including Harvard Business Review, Forbes, Financial Times, and The Times. Chidi has extensive editorial experience, having previously served as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Business Research and currently holding the same position for both Human Relations and the Journal of Management Studies. He also serves on the editorial boards of several esteemed journals, including the Human Resource Management Journal.

As a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, Chidi is committed to excellence in teaching and learning. He is also a member of numerous professional organizations, including the Academy of Management, British Academy of Management, European Academy of Management, and British Sociological Association. Chidi collaborates with government institutions and policymakers on both national and international levels, including the Federal Ministry of Justice (Nigeria) and Policy Connect (UK).

Central to building these stakeholder partnerships is Chidi's strong commitment to generating research income, which totals approximately £7.8 million over his career. His latest interdisciplinary research project, funded by the NFRF and UKRI (approx. $1.3 million), examines how conservation agriculture can mitigate climate-related risks to the well-being of smallholder women farmers in LMICs. In February 2022, he completed an interdisciplinary research project in partnership with the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Justice, funded by the UKRI GCRF/Newton Fund (approx. £194K). This study examined the experiences of disadvantaged workers in Nigeria's informal sector (e.g., street vendors), focusing on their coping strategies and vulnerability to crime. Additionally, Chidi served as a co-investigator in an ESRC-funded project (approx. £6.5 million) that explored the impact of digital technologies on employers, workers, job seekers, and governments. He was also a co-investigator in the ESRC-funded What Works for Well-being Evidence Programme (approx. £900K).

Prior to joining King's Business School, Chidi held the position of Professor in Human Resource Management at Kent Business School and served as Head of the Department of Leadership and Management. Before joining the University of Kent, he had academic roles at the University of Sussex and the University of East Anglia. Chidi successfully obtained his BSc degree in Nigeria, his place of birth and upbringing. He holds an MSc in Occupational Health and Safety Leadership (University of Nottingham), an MA in Higher Education Practice and a PhD in Management Research (both University of East Anglia).

Professor Ogbonnaya is currently accepting PhD students.