September 3, 2020. Shanghai – A special faculty and staff meeting was held today in the Shanghai Petrochemical Auditorium at CEIBS’ Shanghai campus. During the meeting, Professor Li Mingjun officially completed his five-year tenure as CEIBS President. Following a comprehensive process of consideration and selection, Prof. Wang Hong was then officially appointed as the new CEIBS President, having been unanimously endorsed for the position by all the members of the school’s Board of Directors. Yu Shaoliang, member of the Standing Committee and Director of the Organisation Department of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee; Yang Zhenbin, Chairman of the University Council of Shanghai Jiao Tong University; Lin Zhongqin, President of Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Chairman of the CEIBS Board of Directors; Leng Weiqing, Deputy Director of the Organisation Department of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee; and Shen Wei, Secretary General of CPC of Working Committee of Education and Health of Shanghai, attended the meeting. CEIBS leadership team members, faculty and staff representatives were also in attendance.

In his speech on behalf of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee and Municipal Government, Director Yu stated that he hopes CEIBS will continue to deepen its roots in China, promote the integration of China and the world, and give full play to the school’s internationalisation and academic strength. He added that he expects CEIBS to seize new opportunities amidst the current changing environment, and continue to develop the school’s strengths, core competitiveness and international influence and, in doing so, contribute to the development of Shanghai, China and the world.

In his speech, Prof. Li Mingjun thanked the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee and Municipal Government for their guidance and care for the school, and thanked the leadership of the Board of Directors and the support of both the school’s Chinese and European partners. Over the past five years, Prof. Li has worked alongside CEIBS’ faculty and staff to solidify the school’s independence as established by the Chinese government and the European Union when the school was founded, and has led the school in aiding China’s development and training elite management talent. During this time, CEIBS has made great progress in both research and teaching. In addition, the school has been ranked No. 5 in the world for two consecutive years in the Financial Times’ annual MBA and EMBA rankings, and has grown into a leading business school in both Asia and the world. As we mark the 45^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Europe, he noted, CEIBS stands as a testimony to the long-term co-operation between the two.

“I would like to say at this moment from the bottom of my heart that my time as CEIBS President will always be one of my warmest memories and my passion for the school will last for a lifetime,” Prof. Li said.

At the conclusion of his speech, Prof. Li received a warm round of applause from all of the participants in attendance.

President Wang received her Ph.D. in Business Administration from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and pursued post-doctoral studies in Applied Economics at Fudan University. From 2013 to 2020, she served as Party Secretary of Baoshan District in Shanghai. Prof. Wang is a tier-2 national level professor and has served as a doctoral supervisor and tutor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics and Shanghai University. She is also a recipient of the Special Government Allowance of the State Council and was a representative at the 19^th National Congress of the CPC and a member of the 10^th, 11^th, 12^th and 14^th Shanghai Municipal People’s Congresses. Prof. Wang has also served as Deputy Director of the Supervision Committee for the Teaching of Business Administration in Higher Education Institutions at the Ministry of Education. She has also received funding as part of the Ministry of Education’s New Century Excellent Talents Programme and Shu Guang (Dawn) Scholar Programme, and has served as Director of the Shanghai International Cruise Business Institute.

In her speech, President Wang noted that CEIBS is an international business school jointly established by the Chinese government and the European Union and that, over the past 26 years, it has worked to fulfil its motto of “Conscientiousness, Innovation and Excellence”, maintain its autonomy, improve its governance, and develop new leaders, while promoting globalisation and marketisation. As CEIBS President, she continued, her mission is an important one and her responsibilities are great. She added that she must carry out her duties, work diligently, and be more proactive in the future. Prof. Wang also noted the words of Li Qiang, member of the Politburo of the Central Committee and Party Committee Secretary of Shanghai, who recently put forward clear expectations for the future development of CEIBS when he stated that, “As one of the world’s top business schools, CEIBS must strive to become an important bridge for China-EU exchange, an important platform for Chinese and European alumni, and a provider of support for business leaders. It must also help build a community with a shared future for mankind.” She then said that she will strive to live up to the trust of the school, uphold her beliefs and her position, and implement her mission. Ultimately, she said, she will work hard to promote CEIBS as “the world’s leading business school” and a bridge for economic and cultural exchange between China and the world.

Joining the meeting remotely via video connection, CEIBS President (European) Dipak Jain said that CEIBS has created a miracle during its short history. A key aspect of CEIBS’ success, he stated, has been the school’s independent legal status as a non-profit educational organisation as agreed upon by the school’s founding and executive partners. He noted that this autonomy has been stressed by both Chinese central leadership and representatives from the Shanghai Municipal Government. He went on to express his heartfelt appreciation to Prof. Li for his global vision, integrity and persistence, and innovative approach to the development of the school. Noting President Wang’s excellent academic credentials, great administrative abilities and strong leadership, he said that he looked forward to working closely with her and other school leaders to elevate CEIBS to an even higher level. Finally, he added that he believes that close collaboration between the EFMD and the Shanghai Municipal Government can result in a stable and sustainable development framework for the school, making CEIBS a strong showcase for collaboration between China and Europe.

Prof. Yang Zhenbin, Chairman of the University Council of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, pointed out in his speech that the establishment and growth of CEIBS have moved in step with China’s 40 years of reform and opening up. In recent years, he added, CEIBS has frequently accomplished outstanding achievements, and should be regarded as a model for China’s educational reform, Sino-foreign co-operation in operating schools, and management education innovation. Furthermore, he stated that he expects that CEIBS will take up the task of cultivating new talent, continue to embark on a road of building an international business school, and inherit the pioneering spirit of the older generation of CEIBS.

In closing the meeting, Chairman Lin Zhongqin put forward two expectations for CEIBS on behalf of the school’s Board of Directors. First, he said, he hoped that Prof. Wang and Prof. Jain will unite and work together to lead the entire CEIBS community in the further development of the school. Second, he added, he hoped that the school will continue to deepen reform, maintain its spirit of leading the pack, and strive to promote the internationalisation of the school.