Prior to joining the University, Peter worked at Unilever, where he was involved in a major research project exploring the firm's corporate history since the 1960s. Since joining Reading in 2001, Peter has taught and researched various aspects of international business, with a particular focus on the evolution of multinational firms in the twentieth century. He has combined research and teaching with a range of academic leadership roles. From 2008-2012 he acted as Director of Teaching and Learning for Henley Business School, with responsibility for quality assurance and enhancement for all qualification programmes. From 2013-15 he led a University-wide strategic project to support postgraduate taught programmes.
He is currently Faculty Head of Pre-experience Postgraduate Programmes, and a Co-Director of the Centre for International Business History. He is also Editor-in-Chief of the Management and Organizational History journal.