September 29, 2025. Shanghai - CEIBS Vice Chairman and EFMD Global President Eric Cornuel was presented with the Shanghai Magnolia Gold Award today, in recognition of his eminent contributions to Shanghai’s development and international cooperation. Shanghai Vice Mayor Xie Dong made congratulatory remarks at the presentation ceremony.

First presented by the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government in 1989, this prestigious award is given annually to expatriates in Shanghai in recognition of extraordinary contributions to the social, economic, and international development of the city. To date, 1,907 expats have received the award. Prof. Cornuel received the Magnolia Silver Award in 2018.

Prof. Cornuel has been a leading force in global management education for over two decades. In 2000, he became CEO & Director General of EFMD, the world’s largest network for management development dedicated to promoting and enhancing excellence in management development around the world. EFMD is recognised globally as an accreditation body for business schools, business school programmes, and corporate universities through its EQUIS and BSIS accreditations.

Prof. Cornuel joined the CEIBS Board of Directors in 2007 and has served as the school’s Vice Chairman since 2023. In 2012, on behalf of the EU, he co-led negotiations with then-CEIBS Chairman Zhang Jie to sign the 20-year CEIBS Extension Agreement. He also played a pivotal role in recruiting global leaders such as former European Commission President Romano Prodi and former French Prime Ministers Jean-Pierre Raffarin and Dominique de Villepin as CEIBS Distinguished Professors. His efforts have further expanded CEIBS’ influence in Europe, including the establishment of the school’s Zurich campus in 2015, and helped the school establish partnerships with leading business schools in Europe.

On receiving the award, Prof. Cornuel said: “I am deeply honoured to receive this prestigious recognition from the Municipality of Shanghai. This award reflects not only my personal journey but also the shared efforts of EFMD and CEIBS in promoting open dialogue and global collaboration. Shanghai and China hold a very special place in my heart. I firmly believe that the relationship between China and Europe goes far beyond economic complementarity; it is rooted in shared commitments to multilateralism, international rules, and openness. CEIBS is a vital platform for bridging China and the world, and EFMD will continue to work with our partners to expand this mission and contribute to sustainable global development.”

Offering congratulatory remarks, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) President and CEIBS Chairman Ding Kuiling stated that this honour is a testament not only to Prof. Cornuel’s personal achievements, but also to his vision and dedication in fostering the sharing of knowledge and dialogue between nations. With his global outlook, Prof. Cornuel has built enduring bridges between East and West, Prof. Ding said, strengthening Shanghai’s international influence and the world’s understanding of China. He added that over the past three decades, EFMD and SJTU have worked hand in hand to establish CEIBS as a global leader in management education and a model of successful Sino-European cooperation, contributing to a more open, connected, and inclusive world.

Offering her own comments, CEIBS President Wang Hong said that Prof. Cornuel’s recognition is well-deserved and a source of great pride for the entire CEIBS community. As CEIBS Vice Chairman and a global leader in management education, she said, he has been instrumental in elevating the school’s global standing and reinforcing its role as a window into Shanghai’s international influence and China’s openness. “The CEIBS community will stay true to our mission of ‘China Depth, Global Breadth’ in line with our motto of ‘Conscientiousness, Innovation and Excellence’, and strive to become the most respected international business school in the world, contributing to building a more interconnected and shared future for humanity,” she added.

CEIBS President (European) Dominique Turpin stated “it is extremely inspiring to see Prof. Cornuel receive this distinguished honour. His unwavering commitment, strategic vision, and dedication to the mission of management education have left a deep impression on me. At a time in which the global landscape is undergoing profound changes, deepening mutual understanding and expanding cooperation across borders is more important than ever. We need more bridge-builders like Professor Cornuel, and more platforms like CEIBS to bring China and the world closer together and shape a more open, inclusive, and balanced global future.”

2025 is the year in which China and the EU mark their 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, a milestone that underscores the significance of Prof. Cornuel’s recognition. As a symbol of this enduring partnership, CEIBS remains committed to deepening mutual understanding, fostering collaboration, and shaping the next chapter of China–EU relations through business education.