A celebration of the history of CEMS in words and images

The CEMS success story The first 25 years

The CEMS community and innovative spirit planted roots in the foundation of the organisation over a quarter of a century ago. Long before the creation of the European Union in 1992, CEMS founding members shared the ambition to be leaders in the establishment of a European education through a single Master’s degree. The original CEMS Master was conceived as the first pan-European standard of excellence, becoming the first common educational “currency” to harmonize the fragmented market at the time (the Bologna Accords only standardized European Higher education in 1999). The vision from the very beginning was to create a strong European identity and to expand the alliance worldwide whenever possible .

In 1988, the CEMS founders, Lluis Pugès (ESADE), Carlo Secchi (Università Bocconi), Günter Sieben (University of Cologne) and Jean-Paul Larçon (HEC Paris) firmly believed that a pan-European employment market would emerge and sought to prepare students for their future. They contacted leading representatives of the international business community with the objective of testing this vision and creating an alliance that would revolutionize the educational market. The business community, including Bernard Castaing from P&G, responded enthusiastically and was given a prominent place in the governance of CEMS, sowing the seeds of the CEMS Global Alliance, as we know it today.

An educational market revolution

Above all, founding members shared a passion for innovation and the will to achieve their dream and make it a reality by taking risks and facing strong opposition, but never giving up.

25 years later, CEMS is still a unique powerful model, characterized by the adoption of a common global standard without diluting the identity and strengths of each member institution.

Jean-Paul Larçon Nicole de FontainesCEMS Founder First CEMS Executive Director

With their fellow founders Lluis Pugès, Carlo Secchi and Günter Sieben.

When past success drives future ambition

A Global Alliance in Management Education in our dynamic times is always required to improve and renew itself – through its members, the quality of the teaching and curriculum, the students who graduate and enter the working world, the strength and scope of the alumni network, the strength of its brand…. The list of ongoing strategic initiatives is long and rightly so.

Amid this forward-oriented perspective are important moments such as the 25th anniversary of our alliance where we should reflect, be proud of our accomplishments and congratulate all members of our unique global family on the results achieved.

Such occasions also provide the opportunity to remember where it all began - with the pioneering vision of Jean-Paul Larçon, Lluis Pugès, Carlo Secchi, Günter Sieben, Bernard Castaing and Nicole de Fontaines. Without their drive to break the mould in creating the first ever Pan-European model of Management Education, we would never have been in a position to raise the bar by turning the Community of European Management Schools into the Global Alliance in Management Education.

The growth our organisation has experienced should give us the determination to do what we do even better and to continue to welcome top-class institutions and individuals into our alliance, forever mindful of accepting only the best.

As we enter the second quarter-century of CEMS, five major challenges lie ahead: to strive for due global recognition of the Master’s in Management segment, to the benefit of our graduates and alumni; to build an even more powerful alumni association and global visibility of CEMS; to continue to instil the importance of responsible management practice in tomorrow’s business leaders, for the common good; to ensure that CEMS lives up to its global name by formalising presence in Africa, the Middle East and the United States; and to remain at the forefront in innovative Management teaching for the sake of our CEMS MIM students.

It is therefore with a mixture of nostalgic pride and ambitious forward-thinking that we celebrate the first 25 years of the CEMS success story.

Thomas Bieger Roland SiegersCEMS Chairman CEMS Executive Director

The inaugural General Meeting is held in September at ESADE, where Lluis Pugès is elected the first Chairman.

The CEMS Master is launched, with an initial intake of 100 students, representing the first ever Pan-European Management degree of its kind.

9 companies become the first Corporate Partners, including current partners KPMG, P&G and Siemens.

CEMS Faculty groups are introduced, encouraging inter-school research activity between the professors of academic members and the creation of curriculum content.

Andrea Castronovo CEMS 1990 (Bocconi-HEC), inaugural CEMS Alumni Association President President, BMW Group Central and Eastern Europe

“I chose CEMS in the late-80s as it was the only truly European degree of its kind. 25 years on and it is the only truly global degree of its kind, with an alumni network that spans the world. CEMS academic knowledge combined with work experience gained in various business fields creates the best managers and professionals. I am very pleased to have been there at the beginning of the journey and to see what it has become today.”

Breaking the mould: 1988-1992

1988The creation of CEMS (“the Community of European Management Schools”) is sealed by the signing of the Foundation Act on 2nd December, in Barcelona. The four founding member schools are represented by: Professors Jean-Paul Larçon (Dean of HEC), Lluis Pugès (Dean of ESADE), Carlo Secchi (President of the International Relations Commission, Università Bocconi) and Günter Sieben (University of Cologne).

1989CEMS is established as a non-profit association and the CEMS Office is opened and led by Nicole de Fontaines (Executive Director, 1989-2004) and assisted by Mariette Lecroart. Both still serve CEMS in 2013.

1990Graduation of the first CEMS Master class of 90 graduates in Milan.

1992Jacques Delors, President of the European Commission, is awarded CEMS honorary membership.

1991Academic membership of CEMS reaches double figures, as the 10th and 11th member schools are ratified.

A European community ahead of its time: 1993-1997

Ferrie Ringburg CEMS 2002 (RSM-SSE), inaugural CEMS Student Board President Business Projects and Development Manager, Parfums Christian Dior

“One of the greatest strengths of CEMS has been its success in involving all members of the community in shaping its future. As the first Student Board President at the turn of the millennium I was especially proud to see students fully and formally recognised as having a say in the development of CEMS.”

Staffan Burenstam Linder (Stockholm School of Economics) is elected CEMS Chairman, succeeding Lluis Pugès, who is appointed Honorary Chairman.

1993Creation of the CEMS Alumni Association and the election of its first President, Andrea Castronovo (CEMS 1990, Bocconi-HEC).

The first ever CEMS Graduate Conference is hosted by Stockholm School of Economics, on the theme of “Business Challenges in Emerging Markets - Russia and the Baltic States”

1994CEMS creates its first candidate memberships for schools in Central and Eastern Europe, almost 10 years before the integration of countries from the area into

the European Union.

1995Heinz Hauser (University of St. Gallen) is elected CEMS Chairman.

The total number of Corporate Partners exceeds 40 for the first time.

1996Central and Eastern European representation within CEMS is confirmed in the form of Corvinus University of Budapest, University of Economics Prague, and Warsaw School of Economics.

Audrey Clegg Group Vice President - Head of International Talent Management, ABB CEMS Corporate Chair and Executive Board member

“The quality of the CEMS programme and the students have been very strong selling points from day one. The fact that the alliance has recently expanded outside of Europe means that it has more to offer companies than ever before. I’m delighted that ABB continues to benefit from this unique opportunity and can join in celebrating the 25th anniversary of CEMS.”

A new degree for a new direction: 1998-2002

1998CEMS celebrates its 10th anniversary In Vienna, where honorary membership is awarded to the founders Jean Paul Larçon, Carlo Secchi and Günter Sieben.

The strategic debate on the globalisation of CEMS begins.

1999Werner Delfmann (University of Cologne) is elected CEMS Chairman and initiates a collegial senior governance system hinging on vice presidents for academic affairs, corporate partners, communications and the treasury.

2000Creation of the CEMS Student Board, designed to represent the student voice within the CEMS community.

CEMS and L’Oréal co-devise the Elsève Marketing Case, which is deployed across all CEMS schools. Developed by Professor Josep Franch (ESADE Business School), the case wins the EFMD European Case Writing Competition Multimedia Award.

Launch of the CEMS-managed European Business Forum (or “EBF”), a quarterly management review of the CEMS community aimed at business executives. The total number of Corporate Partners reaches 50.

2002The CEMS MIM is officially launched under the auspices of Viviane Reding, European Commissioner for Education, via simultaneous events in all 17 CEMS schools on 22nd October.

Maria Tereza Leme Fleury Dean, Escola de Administração de Empresas de São Paulo-FGV CEMS Strategic Board member

“In many ways such a forward-looking organisation as CEMS could no longer content itself with setting a new standard in Management education in Europe alone. I am very pleased to be able to count my school as one of the honoured non-European members to benefit from CEMS opening its doors to the rest of the world.”

Raising the bar: 2003-2007

2003Paul Verhaegen (Rotterdam School of Management) is elected CEMS Chairman.

The CEMS Nordic Forum, the first ever CEMS Regional Event, is hosted by Copenhagen Business School.

2004François Collin (formerly Director of International Executive Education Programmes, HEC Paris) becomes Executive Director, with his predecessor Nicole de Fontaines assuming the position of Secretary-General.

2005

Creation of the CEMS Strategic Board, comprising the Deans and Rectors of all member schools and senior HR executives from CEMS Corporate Partners.

Launch of the Comprehensive Quality Assurance System, a wide-ranging monitoring of CEMS MIM curriculum content and delivery.

Creation of the CEMS Research and Doctoral Education committee, led by Professor Eero Kasanen (Aalto University School of Business).

2006Bernard Ramanantsoa (HEC Paris) is elected CEMS Chairman.

Held in Verona, the first formal Strategic Board meeting is attended by the EU Commissioner for Education.

2007Approval of the CEMS globalisation strategy. The strategy outlines the desired growth of the organisation in the years to come, with a strong focus on the acceptance of member schools from outside of Europe.

Robert Glasser Secretary General, CARE International CEMS Executive Board member

“What better way to encourage people to think about responsible ways of doing business and, indeed, of social business as a response to poverty, than to work with the business leaders of today and tomorrow? CEMS offers us this privileged opportunity. We are excited about the potential for even greater impact in these key areas over the next 25 years of CEMS!”

Global alliance, world leader: 2008-2013

2008CEMS celebrates its 20th anniversary in Paris and is re-branded as “the Global Alliance in Management Education”. The first non-European academic members are ratified, honorary membership is awarded to Bernard Castaing (P&G), and Bernard Ramanantsoa is re-elected CEMS Chairman.

Thomas Bieger (University of St. Gallen) is elected CEMS Chairman.

2012Roland Siegers (formerly CEMS Deputy Director) succeeds François Collin as Executive Director.

Publication of “Business Schools and their Contribution to Society”, a collective work instigated and created by the CEMS Strategic Board.

The entering student cohort is the first to break the 1000 mark.

Ivey Business School (Canada) become the first non-European “School of the Year”.

Thomas Bieger is re-elected CEMS Chairman.

2013CEMS celebrates its 25th anniversary in Barcelona, welcomes its 29th academic member and awards honorary membership to former Chairmen Werner Delfmann, Heinz Hauser and Bernard Ramanantsoa, and Philippe Louvet (L’Oréal, CEMS Strategic Board).

2009The CEMS MIM is ranked 1st in the world in the global Financial Times Master’s in Management ranking.

The Career Forum becomes a stand-alone event, attracting 1200 Corporate Partners and students.

University of St. Gallen wins the inaugural “School of the Year” title.

2010Implementation of the CEMS CSR strategy, featuring the first Social Partners, acceptance into PRME (Principles for Responsible Management Education), the Global Values Statement and honorary membership for Muhammad Yunus (Nobel Peace Prize winner and founder of Grameen Bank).

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10090

Founding schools

Corporate Partners

First class of graduates

First intake of students

29644

10509009000

Member schools

Corporate Partners

Social Partners

Students

2013 class of graduates

Alumni

CEMS then… …and now

Members of the CEMS Global Alliance in Management Education, 2013

1988 – founder members– ESADE Business School– HEC Paris – Università Bocconi – University of Cologne

1989– Louvain School of Management – Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University

1990– Copenhagen Business School – University of St. Gallen – WU, Vienna University of Economics and Business

1991– LSE, London School of Economics and Political Science – Stockholm School of Economics

1992– NHH Norwegian School of Economics

1996– Corvinus University of Budapest – University of Economics, Prague – Warsaw School of Economics

1998– Aalto University School of Business

2002– UCD, Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School

2008– Escola de Administração de Empresas

de São Paulo-FGV – GSOM, St. Petersburg State University – National University of Singapore Business School – Nova School of Business and Economics – University of Sydney Business School

2009– Ivey Business School – Koç University Graduate School of Business

2010– Keio University, Tokyo

2011– Tsinghua University School of Economics and

Management

2012– HKUST Business School – Indian Institute of Management Calcutta

2013– Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez (to be ratified)

Member schools (by year of entry)

1992– Jacques Delors (former President of the European

Commission)1993– Lluis Pugès (former Director General of ESADE, CEMS

founder and Honorary Chairman)1998– Jean-Paul Larçon (former Dean of HEC and CEMS

founder)– Carlo Secchi (former Rector of Università Bocconi

and CEMS founder)– Günter Sieben (former Professor of the University of

Cologne and CEMS founder)2008– Bernard Castaing (former Vice-President of

P&G Europe and inaugural Corporate Partner representative)

Honorary Members (by year of induction)

2010– Muhammad Yunus (2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner

and founder of Grameen Bank)2013– Werner Delfmann (former Dean of the Faculty of

Management, Economics and Social Sciences - University of Cologne and former CEMS Chairman)

– Heinz Hauser (former Vice-Rector of the University of St. Gallen and former CEMS Chairman)

– Philippe Louvet (former Senior Vice President for Human Resources, L’Oréal and Strategic Board member)

– Bernard Ramanantsoa (Dean of HEC Paris and former CEMS Chairman)

A.P. Moller - Maersk

A.T. Kearney

ABB

Arçelik

Arla Foods

AstraZeneca PLC

Barilla

Beiersdorf AG

BNP Paribas

Crédit Agricole S.A.

Daymon Worldwide

Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu

Deutsche Bank

EADS

EDP - Energias de Portugal, S.A.

EF Education First

Fung (1937) Management Ltd.

GDF SUEZ

Google

Henkel AG & Co. KGaA

HSBC

Indesit Company s.p.a.

CARE International

Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International

Transparency International

United Nations Alliance of Civilizations

Corporate Partners

Social Partners

ING Group

Integration Management Consulting

Kerry Group plc

Kikkoman Corporation

KONE

Kowa Company, Ltd

KPMG

L’Oréal

Lawson, Inc

LVMH

MasterCard

McKinsey & Company

Millennium bcp - Banco Comercial Português

MOL Group

Mondi Europe & International

Nokia Corporation

Nomura Securities Co, Ltd.

Novo Nordisk

Oesterreichische NationalBank

OMV Aktiengesellschaft

PricewaterhouseCoopers

P&G

QBE Insurance Group Limited

Reckitt Benckiser

SABMiller plc

Salesforce.com

Sberbank

Schneider Electric

Shell

Siemens Management Consulting

Sistema

ŠKODA AUTO a.s.

Société Générale

Statkraft AS

Statoil

Swiss RE

UBS

Unibail-Rodamco

UniCredit

Vodafone

Whirlpool

Wolseley Group

info@cems.orgwww.cems.org

CEMS Head Office1, rue de la Libération,78350 Jouy-en-Josas

France

Published in November 2013

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