October 31, 2009. Shanghai campus. -- The China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) today announced that former Italian Prime Minister and European Commission President Romano Prodi will join the school as a Professor. H.E. Mr Prodi will begin teaching at CEIBS in March 2010.

"CEIBS is extremely proud to announce the appointment of His Excellency Mr Prodi as our newest professor,” said CEIBS Executive President Pedro Nueno. “His arrival gives our school the inside perspective of a leader who has directly influenced the evolution of the EU in the international arena. This appointment fits with the mission of our school, emphasizing the “E” and the “I” in our name -- the China Europe International Business School.”

Prof Nueno also stressed that Mr Prodi brings to the professorship many strong contacts in China, especially high level government relationships built up during his nine years as Chairman of Italy’s Institute of Industrial Reconstruction. In addition, Mr Prodi is a frequent guest commentator on CCTV 2, one of China’s largest and best-respected television stations. “He is so well known because of CCTV 2 that Chinese tourists recognize him on the streets of Italy,” said Prof Nueno. “He is a person with a tremendous interest in and love for China.”

Mr Prodi served as Prime Minister of Italy from 1996-98 and again from 2006-07, and as President of the European Commission -- one of the EU’s key governing bodies -- from 1999-2004. Before entering politics, his academic training includes graduating from Catholic University in Milan in 1961, postdoctoral work at the London School of Economics, and serving as a professor of economics at the University of Bologna. Mr Prodi entered government as Minister of Industry in 1978, then became chairman of the Institute for Industrial Reconstruction (1982-89, 1993-94). In 1996, he was elected as Prime Minister for the first time. During his first 28 months in office, Mr Prodi is known for his work to privatize telecommunications and reform the government's employment and pension policies. During the following five years, as President of the European Commission, Mr Prodi lead the EU during its expansion to include Malta, Cyprus, and eight eastern and central European members. In 2006, Mr Prodi again became Prime Minister when his centre-left coalition won Italy’s general elections.

About CEIBS
As China’s oldest, largest and top-ranked business school, CEIBS was launched in 1994 and now graduates 700 EMBA, 200 MBA students as well as educating 10,000 students annually through its executive development programmes. CEIBS MBA is ranked by the Financial Times as number 1 in Asia and number 8 in the world. CEIBS is accredited by under European EQUIS and American AACSB standards.