April 6, 2023. Shanghai – CEIBS today officially welcomed Professor of General Management and Leadership Frank Bournois as the new Vice President and Dean during a special handover ceremony in The Maple Hall at the school’s Shanghai campus. Prof. Bournois assumes the role of VP and Dean from Professor of Accounting Ding Yuan.

The event was attended (virtually or in person) by school leaders, faculty and staff, as well as representatives from CEIBS’ executive partners the EFMD and Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Colleagues from the school’s Beijing, Shenzhen, Zurich and Accra campuses also joined via video link.

Speaking at the event, newly-appointed Shanghai Jiao Tong University President and CEIBS Chairman Ding Kuiling emphasized the support of both the Chinese and European governments as well as Shanghai Jiao Tong University (under the leadership of his predecessor Lin Zhongqin) and the EFMD in strengthening cooperation and put forth a number of recommendations for advancing the development of the school.

“It is a great honour to welcome Prof. Bournois, someone who is well-known in international education and management circles, as the new Vice President and Dean of the school today. Building on the solid foundation laid by his predecessor Prof. Ding Yuan, Prof. Bournois will be able to elevate the school’s talent training and discipline development to new levels,” he added.

Speaking via video link, EFMD Honorary Chairman and CEIBS Vice Chairman Dr. Gerard Van Schaik also reflected on the school’s development into one of leading business schools in Asia and acknowledged the world-class credentials of both the out-going and in-coming Deans.

“I would like to thank Prof. Ding Yuan for his eight years as Dean, and for his tireless, constructive, and innovative contributions to CEIBS in a remarkable period of management,” he said via video link, continuing that, “I’m sure Prof. Bournois will be an inspiration to all of us and a very human and approachable Dean and friend. We wish him all possible success for years to come in this fantastic school.”

EFMD and EFMD Global Network President Dr. Eric Cornuel further underlined the CEIBS’ history over the past 30 years and the need to push the school to mirror the changes in society today.

“We welcome today a very prestigious and distinguished Dean [...] to this new position, and we are sure he is going to do a good job,” Prof. Cornuel said.

He also noted that, “CEIBS can also be an important bridge between Europe and China, and I’m sure that with the school’s leadership team, we will continue to progress and we will reach a new level.”

Prof. Bournois is the second European member to join the school’s Management Committee over the past year, following CEIBS President (European) Dominique Turpin, who joined the school in September 2022.

“Prof. Bournois and I both have the same passion for what is best for the school, and I know that he will work very closely with us,” Prof. Turpin said during the ceremony.

“He also has a lot of great ideas, so we will do very well with him and his leadership. I hope we are going to take the school to new heights,” he added.

CEIBS President Wang Hong then spoke about the importance of the school’s role in promoting cooperation between China and the EU, and extended a warm welcome to Prof. Bournois.

“With Prof. Ding Yuan’s support, the school achieved remarkable results and ranked amongst the best in the world. He made many efforts in research, faculty recruitment, and promoting the international development of CEIBS,” she said, adding that, “We are excited at the arrival of Prof. Bournois and look forward to working together with him to attract international faculty, diversify our student body and promote CEIBS on the global management education stage.

Prof. Ding Yuan then recalled numerous highlights from his time as Vice President and Dean and expressed his gratitude to CEIBS, his colleagues, friends and family for all of their support.

“With great emotion, I am here at this ceremony. It was my privilege to serve for eight years on the school’s leadership team, and I have completed it with a strong sense of fulfilment,” he said, continuing, “With such a strong base and Prof. Bournois’ rich international multi-campus leadership experience, I am more than confident about a brighter future for CEIBS.”

Next, Prof. Ding Kuiling conferred an official certificate of appointment on Prof. Bournois for his new role. Prof. Bournois then acknowledged the contributions of his predecessor and expressed his joy at being welcomed to his new school.

“My joining CEIBS was motivated by a passion for the school’s international dimension,” Prof. Bournois said.

 “I am honoured to be here. I know that ‘honour’ means not only to be honoured or to be proud; it also has the same root as ‘onus,’ which means weight. Honour comes because there is with it the weight of duty, and that is for the good of our school,” he added.

In concluding the ceremony, Prof. Wang Hong said, “We will continue to promote the school’s internationalization, strengthen its knowledge creation and case development, and actively promote economic and cultural exchanges between China, Europe and the world. In following with school’s co-culture, we will write a new chapter for CEIBS.”

Prior to joining CEIBS, Prof. Bournois served as Executive President and Dean of ESCP Business School in Europe. He is an expert in corporate governance and how large firms identify, manage and develop their future leaders. Learn more about his teaching and research interests here.