Robert Ellis, a well-known US consultant and commentator on the wealth management industry, is moving into academia by directing the new center for business and entrepreneurship in the liberal arts at Wells College, NY.

Most recently, Ellis was a financial services strategic consultant and has an extensive background in retail sales and marketing of financial products and services. For example, he previously was a consultant on wealth management at US-based Novarica, and prior to that, worked at Celent, the consultancy.

He also has experience in the fields of banking, brokerage, asset management and insurance, and he has taught undergraduate classes in small business management, financial services management, principles of electronic commerce, and federal taxation. Ellis earned his B.B.A. degree from the University of Michigan, and his M.B.A from the Harvard Business School.

Wells unveiled its plan to add a center for business and entrepreneurship in the liberal arts earlier this spring.