Blaricum

Over 40 alumni visited the home of Philip Alberdingk Thijm (MBA ‘89), president of the Netherlands chapter, for their annual social gathering on Sept. 9.

Buenos Aires

The Italian Cultural Center in Buenos Aires hosted an alumni meeting on Sept. 10.  Prof. Antonio Argandoña gave the academic session.

The Italian Cultural Center in Buenos Aires hosted an alumni meeting on Sept. 10.  Prof. Antonio Argandoña gave the academic session.

Alumni in Chile awarded Prof. José Antonio Segarra “IESE Professor of the Year” at their annual reunion at the IESE campus in Santiago. Prof. Segarra gave an academic session highlighting the basic principles of good management. Following the talk, over 90 alumni has the opportunity to network and welcome the newest members of the chapter, the MBA ’07 graduates.

Patricio Jottar (MBA ’88), president of the Regional Board of Chile, had the responsibility of breaking the ice. He gave an overview of the Alumni Association, discussing its history, mission, activities and services. He then turned the floor over to Prof. Segarra, who led a session titled “Returning to Roots: Companies and People.” In his remarks, he outlined the basic aspects of good management and effective people. After the discussion, an opportunity for networking took place, with the participation of the school’s newest graduates – members of the MBA class of 2007. During the dinner, an award for “outstanding professor of the year,” was presented to Prof. Segarra. Alumni then voted on next year’s winner, an honor that was won by Prof. Josep Faus.

Prof. Jaume Llopis gave a session on what defines successful business executives to 40 IESE alumni and friends at the IPADE campus in Mexico on Jan. 22. IPADE’s first year MBA students took note of Prof. Llopis' advice for that business leaders should allow their employees' creativity to flourish, because we spend a great deal of our time putting out fires. "The road to success is to be better and be different," the professor said.

Alumni and students also enjoyed a talk by Antonio Chedraui, general manager of Grupo Chedraui, on how the supermarket chain has achieved leadership in its industry. Chedraui acquired Carrefour's 29 stores in Mexico in 2005 bringing its total of outlets to 113. Chedraui’s founders were Lebanese immigrants who opened their first store in 1920s in Xalapa, Veracruz. The first stores mostly sold textiles and the group opened its first supermarket in 1970 in the same city. Grupo Chedraui opened its first store in Los Angeles in 1997. 

On Dec. 18, members of the Brazil Chapter of the Alumni Association met in a special VIP section of the Artemoda. Also taking part was IESE Prof. José Ramón Pin, who led a session on “Consistency: The Key to Managing People in Organizations.”

Alumni met at the INALDE campus in Bogota on Oct.10. Prof. Antonio Argandoña led a session on the global economy’s impact on Latin America.

The IESE U.K. Alumni Chapter met on Oct. 25 at Mary Ward House in London to enjoy an academic session led by Prof. Erich Joachimsthaler. The group met again on Jan. 15 for a session on "How To Manage Your Career (Quite) A Few Years After The MBA" led by Mike Rosenberg.

Prof. Heinrich Lichtenstein and Pekka Santeri Mäki (AMP 06), Managing Partner of 3TS Capital Partners gave a joint session on venture capital and private equity on Oct. 11. Over 40 alumni enjoyed a meal following the session held at the Möbel Leiner Haupteingang. Thanks go to Paul Koch (MBA’ 06), Gemy Kim (MBA ‘06) and the event’s sponsors, the Kika Group.

The IDE Business School hosted alumni and friends who met on Nov. 8 for an academic session by Prof. Javier Quintanilla.

Alumni met in at Terry College of Business on Nov. 15 for an academic session on China’s manufacturing capacity by Prof. Jaume Ribera.

Over 40 alumni and friends enjoyed a behind-the-scenes tour of the Barcelona 1900 exhibition at the Van Gogh Museum given by the museum’s curator, Benno Tempel. Thanks to Hein Broerse (MBA ‘07) and Elena Perepelova (MBA ‘07) for helping organize the event and to the museum for hosting.

Alumni congregated at Areva’s headquarters on Nov. 19 in the Areva headquarters for a session led by Mike Rosenberg. Thanks go to José Luis Carbonell (MBA ‘78), Enrique Álvarez-Uría (MBA ‘07) and Areva.

More than 50 IESE alumni met at PIMCO Europe’s offices on Oct 24. Prof. Erich Joachimstahler gave a session titled "Hidden in Plain Sight, A Radical Approach to Reinventing Business Strategies, Building Brands, and Establishing a Culture of Innovation". The Germany Regional Chapter Alumni got together again on Dec. 15 for a traditional Lagerfeuer bonfire.

Then in January, over a 150 alumni and guests gathered at Boston Consulting Group’s offices in Munich to hear a presentation by Franz M. Haniel, chairman of the family-owned company Haniel Holding.  Prof. Pedro Nueno moderated the session titled: "My Life as an Entrepreneur: Key Decisions and Experiences."

While Haniel stressed that there was no clear process to make a family-owned company successful, he views value-oriented and responsible management as a key element to success. Focusing upon the importance of two dominant principals, Haniel believes "hierarchy and performance" are important within the corporation; however "solidarity and fairness" should be at the heart of family governance.

Heino Meerkatt, BCG Senior Partner and Managing Director, introduced the business leader. Thanks go to Michael Brigl (MBA ‘05) made it possible to use the BCG headquarters.

Alumni met on Nov. 22 on the IPADE campus to participate in a session on financial risk management led by Prof. Ahmad Rahnema.

IESE Alumni in Switzerland met on November 28 and enjoyed the conference titled, "Investing in the Long Term: Techniques and Outlook", by Prof. Javier Estrada. There were 20 people in attendance.

Alumni met on Nov. 29 for an academic session on investing in the long term by Prof. Javier Estrada.

Alumni met on Dec. 3 at the Barna Business School in the capital of the Dominican Republic for a session on consistency in human resources led by Prof. José Ramón Pin

Members of the Peru IESE Alumni Chapter met at the PAD Business School on Dec. 17. Prof. Manuel Velilla gave the academic session.

More than 35 alumni and friends of IESE met at Bancafé’s headquarters in Miami on January 19. Prof. Pedro Videla encouraged attendees to decipher the key drivers to the global economy and how it will affect emerging regions.  Mike Zellner publisher of Latin Trade, one of the most prestigious business publications in Latin America also participated. Gregory Cooper and Joe Kerwin from IESE’s New York were in attendance along with Prof. Eric Weber.

Thanks go to the Southern Atlantic Regional Club of IESE’s U.S. Alumni Chapter for making this event possible.  The board comprises seven Miami-based alumni: Clemencia del Tobón (MBA ‘76), Ignacio Fiterre (MBA ‘72), Fernando García Verdejo (GEMBA ‘03), Gilberto González (MBA ‘00), Carlos Javier Abarca (MBA ‘88) and Francisco Larenas (GEMBA ‘05) as well as  Steve Hickson (GEMBA ‘02) and Alan Nelly (MBA ‘05) from Atlanta.

The Canada IESE Alumni Chapter met on Dec. 18 at the National
Club in Toronto.  Prof. Bernardo Villegas gave a session on the impact of the U.S. subprime mortgage crisis on the Asia Pacific region.

The Netherlands IESE Alumni Chapter met in Almere on Jan. 24.  Prof. Bruno Cassiman gave a session on Scoping New Game Strategies. Thanks go to Fons van der Ham (AMP 05) for organizing the event.

Prof. Carlos Cavallé gave a session on innovation and leadership to members of the Germany IESE Alumni Chapter in Stuttgart on February 5. 

Alumni met on Feb. 7 for an event in Mumbai coinciding with the Inside India Short Focused Program. Pawan Agarwal, CEO of Nutan Tiffin Box Suppliers Charity Trust led a case on the company’s innovative strategy.

Luis Fernando Quiroga (PADE 83) is the new president of the Galicia Regional Alumni Chapter. Vicente Arias (PDG 76) is vice-president and Ricardo Balmori (MBA ‘88), Manuel Balseiro (PADE 83), Natalia Centenera, Manuel Fernández (PDD 95) and Alberto Freire (MBA ‘88) are board members