Dr Aponte-Moreno is the director of the MSc Management programme. He holds a BA in Languages and Business (Sorbonne University, Paris), an MBA (Nicholls State University, Louisiana), and a PhD in Linguistics (CUNY Graduate Center, New York). He also holds a Certificate in International Relations from the University of Paris (Panthéon-Assas).

His research focuses on the role of language in the leadership process, and on the use of theatre techniques in developing leadership communication skills. He has written extensively about political leadership in Venezuela. His work has appeared in numerous international media outlets including the BBC, The Guardian, The World Policy Journal, and the International Policy Digest.

His doctoral dissertation analyzed the leadership discourse of former Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez over a period of nine years. He is also a Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy and an active member of the International Leadership Association.

In addition to UCL, he has taught at Aston University and the University of Surrey. While working on his PhD, he was a lecturer at Princeton University, New York University, and several colleges of the CUNY system in New York City.

Prior to working in academia, Dr Aponte-Moreno worked in international banking for many years, specializing in corporate finance in emerging markets (Latin America). In New York, he worked for Crédit Lyonnais, ED&F Mann, and Mizuho Corporate Bank. In Miami, he worked for Banque Sudameris. 

Dr. Aponte-Moreno was born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela, but has lived abroad most of his life in the United States, France and the United Kingdom. He has traveled around the world extensively and speaks English, Spanish and French fluently.