{{Short description|Swiss business education school}} {{ad|date=January 2026}} {{Infobox university | name = IMD Business School | native_name = | image = Architecture Campus 2024.jpg | image_size = 250px | caption = IMD campus in Lausanne | logo = IMD logo.jpg | logo_size = 100px | latin_name = | motto = | mottoeng = Real Learning Real Impact | established = {{start date and age|1990}} | closed = | type = Business School | affiliation = | endowment = | rector = | officer_in_charge = | chairman = Jørgen Vig Knudstorp | chancellor = | president = David Bach <ref>[https://www.imd.org/news/leadership/imd-appoints-david-bach-as-its-next-president/ IMD appoints David Bach as its next President], imd.org, April 2024</ref> | vice-president = | superintendent = | provost = | vice_chancellor = | principal = | dean = | director = | head_label = | head = | students = 250 degree students | undergrad = | postgrad = | doctoral = | other = 19,000 executive education participants | city = Lausanne | province = Vaud | country = Switzerland | campus = | former_names = | free_label = | free = | athletics = | colours = | sports = | nickname = | mascot = | website = {{URL|https://www.imd.org/}} | footnotes = | coor = {{Coord|46.51|6.62|display=inline,title|type:edu}} | faculty = 60 | administrative_staff = 450 | other_students = | colors = | affiliations = }}
'''IMD Business School''' ('''IMD''') is an independent business school with a campus in Lausanne, Switzerland, and strategic hubs in Singapore, Shenzhen, China and Cape Town, South Africa.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About us - IMD Business School |url=https://www.imd.org/about/about-us/ |access-date=2024-07-18 |website=www.imd.org |language=en}}</ref>
IMD Business School is known for its Executive Education MBA, Executive MBA programs as well as its advisory work in helping leaders and policy-makers navigate complexity and change, and for its proximity to business and focus on real impact.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Best One-Year International Business Schools List |url=https://www.forbes.com/business-schools/list/international-1-year/ |website=Forbes}}</ref> In 2024, it named David Bach as its new president.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-23 |title=IMD appoints David Bach as its next President - IMD News |url=https://www.imd.org/news/leadership/imd-appoints-david-bach-as-its-next-president/ |access-date=2024-09-02 |website=www.imd.org |language=en}}</ref>
==History and mission== IMD Business School was formed in January 1990 through the merger of independent management education centers International Management Institute (Geneva) (IMI), established in 1946 by Alcan, and Institut pour l'Etude des Methodes de Direction de l'Entreprise (IMEDE) Lausanne established in 1957 by Nestlé.<ref>{{cite news|title=IMD – International Institute for Management Development|url=http://www.economist.com/whichmba/imd-international-institute-management-development/2012?tab=3|newspaper=The Economist|access-date=2014-04-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140424213939/http://www.economist.com/whichmba/imd-international-institute-management-development/2012?tab=3|archive-date=2014-04-24|url-status=live}}</ref> The history of IMEDE and its merger with IMI is documented in Jean-Pierre Jeannet and Hein Schreuder (2015, chapters 2 and 4).<ref>Jeannet, Jean-Pierre and Hein Schreuder. 2015. "From Coal to Biotech: The transformation of DSM with business school support". Springer. {{ISBN|978-3662462980}}</ref> Its industrial heritage is unusual for business schools, which are usually university-affiliated.<ref name="eiu_rankings">{{cite web|title=The Economist: Which MBA|url=http://mba.eiu.com|access-date=2008-06-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080529100803/http://mba.eiu.com/|archive-date=2008-05-29|url-status=live}}</ref>
IMD Business School business school provides executive education; it is a Swiss university institute<ref>{{Cite web |last=mathieu |date=2023-04-17 |title=IMD enhances its academic stature with accreditation as a Swiss university institute |url=https://ggba.swiss/en/imd-enhances-its-academic-stature-with-accreditation-as-a-swiss-university-institute/ |access-date=2025-05-20 |website=Greater Geneva Bern area |language=en-US}}</ref> accredited by the Swiss Accreditation Council<ref>{{cite news|title=IMD accredited as a Swiss university institute|url=https://www.imd.org/news/imd-accredited-as-a-swiss-university-institute/|newspaper=IMD|access-date=2023-04-25}}</ref> and it consists of one integrated multidisciplinary faculty. The faculty consists of more than 50 full-time members, made up of 21 different nationalities. The current president is David Bach, who follows Jean-Francois Manzoni, Dominique Turpin, John R. Wells, Peter Lorange, and Juan Rada.<ref name="eiu_rankings"/>
IMD Business School also publishes a quarterly management magazine, entitled ''I by IMD'' ({{URL|https://www.imd.org/ibyimd/}}), as well as online content via a dedicated ''I by IMD'' knowledge hub.<ref>{{Cite web |title=I by IMD - First-person Business Intelligence from the Brightest Thinkers |url=https://www.imd.org/ibyimd/ |access-date=2025-12-08 |website=www.imd.org |language=en-US}}</ref> ''I by IMD'' was launched in 2021 and publishes articles, audio podcasts, and video interviews, focusing on issues relating to business leaders.<ref>{{Cite web |title=IMD - Annual Report 2021 |url=https://www.imd.org/annual-reports/annual-report-2021/faculty-and-research/ibyimd.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251004063003/https://www.imd.org/annual-reports/annual-report-2021/faculty-and-research/ibyimd.html |archive-date=2025-10-04 |access-date=2025-12-08 |website=IMD - Annual Report 2021 |language=en |url-status=live }}</ref> The publication offers first-person business and leadership intelligence from thinkers in academia, industry, the third sector, and society.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-25 |title=I by IMD launches digital archive |url=https://www.inpublishing.co.uk/articles/i-by-imd-launches-digital-archive-22143 |access-date=2025-12-08 |website=InPublishing |language=en}}</ref> In late 2025, I by IMD devoted an entire edition of the journal to the issue of longevity, focussing on this as a strategic, economic and leadership imperative, rather than as a social issue.<ref>https://www.forbes.com/sites/avivahwittenbergcox/2025/12/11/higher-ed-meets-longevity-the-global-rise-of-midlife-education/</ref> An article in Forbes reports that the journal's editors argue that "longer lives will reshape everything from talent pipelines and board composition to innovation cycles and corporate purpose." In 2025, I by IMD agreed a licensing deal with the New York Times, whereby content from the publication is distributed to the Times' global audience, as one of several international publications providing business-focussed content.<ref>{{Cite web |title=IMD Articles for Licensing |url=https://nytlicensing.com/content/imd/ |access-date=2025-12-08 |website=NYTLicensing}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=License Content {{!}} Strategic Content Creation and Feeds {{!}} NYTLicensing |url=https://nytlicensing.com/content/#business |access-date=2025-12-08 |website=nytlicensing.com}}</ref> In 2024, the magazine's print run was 6,000 copies per quarter, and increased distribution channels to include airline journals and global publishing platforms, such as Zinio and Lufthansa's e-journals.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Numéro 19. September-November 2025 - I by IMD |url=https://www.zinio.com/ch/publications/i-by-imd/40560 |access-date=2025-12-08 |website=www.zinio.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Lufthansa eJournals |url=https://box.media-carrier.de/magazines?b=77745&l=en |access-date=2025-12-08 |website=box.media-carrier.de}}</ref> The number of active users on the ''I by IMD'' hub reached 785k by the end of 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Research and Thought Leadership - IMD Annual Report 2024 |url=https://www.imd.org/reports/annual-report/2024/research-and-thought-leadership/ |access-date=2025-12-08 |website=www.imd.org |language=en}}</ref>
==Executive Education==
=== Custom Programs === IMD Business School is in custom executive education, delivering over 370 programs in 2024 to nearly 200 organizations. These programs are co-designed with clients and delivered in flexible formats—face-to-face, virtual, and asynchronous.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Homepage - IMD Annual Report 2024 |url=https://www.imd.org/reports/annual-report/2024/ |access-date=2025-06-25 |website=www.imd.org |language=en}}</ref> Some partnerships include:
- Securitas: A five-year transformation journey recognized with a gold EFMD award.<ref name="efmdglobal.org">{{Cite web |date=2023-05-18 |title=EFMD Excellence in Practice Award (EiP) Winners - EFMD Global |url=https://www.efmdglobal.org/efmd-awards/eip-excellence-in-practice-awards/efmd-excellence-in-practice-award-winners/ |access-date=2025-06-25 |website=www.efmdglobal.org |language=en-GB}}</ref>
- Bayer: A Sprint program also recognized with a gold EFMD award.<ref name="efmdglobal.org"/>
- Konica Minolta Inc: A talent development program.
- Coca-Cola İçecek (CCI): A leadership and development program.
- Bühler Group: A leadership and high-performance team development program received a Bronze award at the 33rd annual Brandon Hall Group Human Capital Management Excellence Award in 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=thurgau |first=chrisign gmbh, web management, weinfelden |date=2025-09-01 |title=Bühler und IMD gewinnen Brandon Hall Award für bestes Teamentwicklungsprogramm |url=https://www.leaderdigital.ch/news/buehler-und-imd-gewinnen-brandon-hall-award-fuer-bestes-teamentwicklungsprogramm-14007.html |access-date=2025-09-30 |website=LEADER Digital - Das Ostschweizer Wirtschaftsportal |language=de}}</ref>
=== Open and Online programs === In 2024, more than 5,000 participants joined open programs and 2,260 joined online offerings.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Homepage - IMD Annual Report 2024 |url=https://www.imd.org/reports/annual-report/2024/ |access-date=2025-06-25 |website=www.imd.org |language=en}}</ref>
IMD Business School was recognized #9 globally for open executive programs in the 2025 Financial Times Executive Education Rankings.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Executive Education Open 2025 - Business school rankings from the Financial Times - FT.com |url=https://rankings.ft.com/rankings/3001/executive-education-open-2025 |access-date=2025-06-25 |website=rankings.ft.com}}</ref> IMD was also recognized #1 globally in the Financial Times Executive Education Custom 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Executive Education Custom 2025 - Business school rankings from the Financial Times - FT.com |url=https://rankings.ft.com/rankings/3000/executive-education-custom-2025 |access-date=2025-07-25 |website=rankings.ft.com}}</ref>
=== Degree Programs === IMD Business School offers a range of degree programs:
* MBA: A one-year, AI-rich program named 2024 MBA Program of the Year by ''Poets&Quants''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Byrne |first=John A. |date=2024-10-30 |title=Poets&Quants' MBA Program Of The Year: IMD's Reimagining Of The MBA |url=https://poetsandquants.com/2024/10/30/poetsquants-mba-program-of-the-year-imds-reimagining-of-the-mba/ |access-date=2025-06-25 |website=Poets&Quants |language=en-US}}</ref> * Executive MBA (EMBA): A flexible, modular program with global immersions in China, Japan, and Singapore. In 2024, IMD announced a revamp of their EMBA offering to address the evolving needs of executives.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Byrne |first=John A. |date=2024-12-19 |title=Inside IMD's New & Highly Innovative Executive MBA Program |url=https://poetsandquants.com/2024/12/19/inside-imds-new-highly-innovative-executive-mba-program/?pq-category=business-school-news |access-date=2025-06-25 |website=Poets&Quants |language=en-US}}</ref> * Master of Science in Sustainable Management and Technology: Delivered in partnership with EPFL and UNIL.
In April 2025, IMD Business School launched its first new degrees in 25 years:<ref>{{Cite web |last=Byrne |first=John A. |date=2025-04-03 |title=IMD Launches First New Degrees In 25 Years: Stackable Executive Masters In AI & Sustainability |url=https://poetsandquants.com/2025/04/03/imd-launches-first-new-degrees-in-25-years-stackable-executive-masters-in-ai-sustainability/?pq-category=business-school-news |access-date=2025-06-25 |website=Poets&Quants |language=en-US}}</ref>
* Executive Master in AI & Digital Business Transformation * Executive Master in Sustainable Business Transformation
=== Innovation === IMD has won gold in the Immersive Experiential Learning category at the QS Reimagine Education Awards for its XR 360 AR Learning Theatre Experience – SpheriCO2.<ref>{{Cite web |title=GLOBAL AWARD WINNERS (2014-2024) |url=https://www.reimagine-education.com/__all_winners/ |access-date=2025-09-30 |website=Reimagine Education Awards & Conference |language=en-US}}</ref>
The internal development program We@IMD received gold for Best Advance in Education Delivered Through Technology at the Brandon Hall Group Excellence in Technology Awards 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-21 |title=HCM Technology Awards Program |url=https://excellenceawards.brandonhall.com/technology/,%20https://excellenceawards.brandonhall.com/technology/ |access-date=2025-10-03 |language=en-US}}</ref>
The QS Reimagine Education Awards 2023 recognized IMD for its innovative use of technology in management education through the OWP+GPT project and the IMD Sprints.<ref>{{Cite web |title=QS Reimagine Education Award winners 2023 |url=https://www.qs.com/insights/qs-reimagine-education-award-winners-2023 |access-date=2025-10-03 |website=www.qs.com |language=en}}</ref>
==Ranking== IMD Business School's full-time MBA has been ranked by Bloomberg<ref>{{cite web |title=Bloomberg best business in Europe |website=Bloomberg News |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/business-schools/2019/regions/europe}}</ref> and Forbes<ref>{{Cite web |last=Settimi |first=Christina |title=IMD And London Business School Top Ranking Of The Best International MBA Programs |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/christinasettimi/2019/09/18/imd-and-london-business-school-top-ranking-of-the-best-international-mba-programs/ |date=Sep 18, 2019 |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=Forbes |language=en |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230830062231/https://www.forbes.com/sites/christinasettimi/2019/09/18/imd-and-london-business-school-top-ranking-of-the-best-international-mba-programs/ |archive-date= Aug 30, 2023 }}</ref> as one of the best one-year programs in Europe and internationally. IMD Business School is number 2 in Bloomberg's 2025-26 Best Business Schools Ranking.<ref>{{Cite news |title=IMD, 2nd in Bloomberg Businessweek’s 2025–26 Europe & Middle East B-School Rankings |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/business-schools/imd/ |access-date=2025-09-30 |work=Bloomberg.com |language=en}}</ref> Since 2018, IMD Business School has consistently remained in Bloomberg’s top three.
In 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 IMD Business School was ranked first in open programs worldwide by the ''Financial Times''.<ref name="rankings.ft.com">{{Cite web |url=http://rankings.ft.com/businessschoolrankings/executive-education-open-2017 |title=Executive Education Rankings - Open Programs - 2017 |website=Financial Times |access-date=2017-05-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517210348/http://rankings.ft.com/businessschoolrankings/executive-education-open-2017 |archive-date=2017-05-17 |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Notable alumni== {{See also|Category:International Institute for Management Development alumni}}IMD Business School counts 125.000+ alumnis across 140 countries and 80+ industries. {{div col|colwidth=30em}} *Svein Aaser: Former CEO, DnB NOR *Matti Alahuhta: CEO, Kone Corporation *Ole Andersen: Chairman, Bang & Olufsen *Bjarni Ármannsson: CEO, Glitnir Bank, Iceland *Jon Fredrik Baksaas: President and CEO, Telenor *Paul Bulcke: Former CEO, Nestlé *Harsh Goenka: Indian billionaire and Chairman, RPG Enterprises *Oswald Grübel: Former CEO, UBS *Carla De Geyseleer, CFO, Volvo Cars *Philipp Humm: Former CEO, T-Mobile USA *Tarang Jain, Indian billionaire<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.varrocgroup.com/leadership_team|title=Varroc Group - Varroc Group Site|first=Script|last=Tutorials|website=www.varrocgroup.com|access-date=5 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180711174436/http://www.varrocgroup.com/leadership_team|archive-date=11 July 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> *Susanne Klatten: Member of the Board, BMW *Gerard Kleisterlee: Chairman Vodafone; Former CEO, Royal Philips Electronics *Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen: Former President and CEO, The Lego Group *Abba Kyari: Chief of Staff to the President of Nigeria from August 2015 to April 2020 *Christoph Loos, CEO, Hilti *Jay Mehta, Chairman, Mehta Group *Milinda Moragoda: Sri Lankan Cabinet Minister of Justice, Law Reform and MP *Thomas Oetterli, CEO, Schindler Group *Mark Opzoomer: CEO, Rambler Media *Michael Patsalos-Fox: Former Chairman, Americas, McKinsey & Company *Prince Pieter-Christiaan of Orange-Nassau, van Vollenhoven, Netherlands *Mark Rutte: Prime Minister, Netherlands *Thomas Schmidheiny: Chairman, Holcim *Søren Skou: former CEO, Maersk *Ian Charles Stewart: Founder, ''WiRed'' *Diego Molano Vega: Former Minister of Information Technologies and Communications, Colombia *Peter Voser: Chairman and CEO, ABB, Former CEO Shell * Erik Aas, CEO of Banglalink {{div col end}}
==Faculty== * Richard Baldwin (economist) * Didier Cossin, professor of Governance and Finance and the Founder / Director at the IMD Global Board Center, and the UBS Chair in Banking and Finance<ref>{{Cite web |title=Didler Cossin: About us |work=Center for Governance: IMD Global Board Center |publisher=IMD Business School |url=https://cfg.sa/board/prof-didier-cossin |access-date=2025-02-04 |date=n.d. |language=en}}</ref> * Jean-Francois Manzoni * Stefan Michel, Dean of Faculty and Research * Misiek Piskorski * Michael D. Watkins * Howard Yu
== Partnerships == IMD Business School has partnerships with<ref>{{Cite web |title=IMD Partnerships - IMD Business School |url=https://www.imd.org/about/imd-partnerships/ |access-date=2023-06-06 |website=www.imd.org |language=en-US}}</ref>
* MIT Sloan School of Management * École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne * University of Lausanne * École cantonale d’art de Lausanne * EHL Hospitality Business School * Inner Development Goals<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-10 |title=IMD joins forces with the IDGs Foundation - IMD News |url=https://www.imd.org/news/sustainability/imd-joins-forces-with-the-idgs-foundation/ |access-date=2024-07-18 |website=www.imd.org |language=en}}</ref> * Geneva Graduate Institute * World Business Council for Sustainable Development
== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== * https://www.imd.org/
{{Triple accreditation}}{{Global Network for Advanced Management}}{{Portal bar|Switzerland|Business and Economics}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:International Institute For Management Development}} Category:International Institute for Management Development Category:Universities and colleges established in 1990 Category:Organisations based in Lausanne Category:1990 establishments in Switzerland