Dr. Zicheng Lei is a Senior Lecturer in Finance (Associate Professor) at King’s Business School. Dr. Lei holds a PhD in Finance from the University of Warwick, an MSc in Finance from the University of Manchester, and a BSc in Accounting from Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics. He is also a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Dr. Lei’s research interests lie in corporate finance, focusing on corporate payout policy, corporate political activism, mergers and acquisitions, green finance, climate finance, earnings management, corporate social responsibility, and empirical behavioural finance. He has published articles in esteemed international journals such as the Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, the Journal of Corporate Finance, and the British Journal of Management. His research has made a significant impact beyond academia, with notable papers publicized by the Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance, The FinReg Blog, and featured by Hedge Fund Alpha and the Warwick Business School website, highlighting its relevance to both investors and the wider public. Additionally, Dr. Lei actively contributes as an ad-hoc referee for various leading academic journals.

At King’s Business School, Dr. Lei has consistently received high teaching evaluation scores for his modules. His teaching philosophy emphasizes making complex concepts understandable, applying theories in practical scenarios, and enhancing the student learning experience. This approach has earned him multiple nominations for King’s Education Awards and Dean’s Awards.

Previously, Dr. Lei was the Deputy Programme Director of the MSc Finance (Corporate Finance) at King’s Business School. He now serves as the Sub Assessment Board Chair for PG Programmes.

Are you currently accepting new PhD students?

Yes