BSL Faculty Members
Dr. Katrin Muff
Dean of Business School LausanneDr. Katrin Muff was appointed Dean of Business School Lausanne in 2008. Muff ensures real-life business direction at BSL by merging her entrepreneurial and corporate background with the academic world by focusing her activities on assuring that students and course participants get the best business education possible. In 2000, Muff co-founded Yupango, a coaching consultancy dedicated to developing start-up companies and training management teams. Prior to that, Muff was Director, Strategic Planning EMEA of IAMS Pet Food, a division of Procter & Gamble, in the Netherlands. Throughout the 90’s, Muff held several positions for ALCOA (Aluminum Company of America), working in Moscow, Russia as General Manager for Building Systems International, in the United States as an Industry Analyst for Global Mergers & Acquisitions and in Switzerland as a Business Analyst for Europe. A Swiss native, Muff began her career with Schindler Lifts in Lucerne, then in Australia, and holds both a Doctoral and MBA degree from Business School Lausanne.
Georges Knell
Associate DeanGeorges Knell began instructing Marketing Essentials and Competitive Positioning at Business School Lausanne in 2009 and joined the academic world in 2004. He has taught in London and France at BBA and MBA levels and held the position of Associate Dean at the London School of Business and Finance before joining Grenoble Ecole de Management as Programme Director. He is now the Associate Dean in charge of BBA, MIB, MSc in Management, MSc in Global Marketing, MBA, EMBA programs at BSL. Prior, Georges held the position of Marketing Director for Bongrain S.A, where he managed a team of 15 and a multimillion dollar marketing budget. Headhunted to join Match Supermarkets, he launched a new concept of supermarket rolled out across 250 supermarkets worldwide. He began his career with L'Oreal for VICHY cosmetics as Brand Manager. A French citizen, Georges is a Chartered Marketer from the Chartered Institute of Marketing and a fellow member of CMI. He earned his MBA at the London Business School.
Dr. Erdal Atukeren
ProfessorDr. Erdal Atukeren (Turkey/Swiss) teaches Economics at BSL at the Master’s level. He brings with him extensive expertise in Economics, Econometrics and International Economics and Finance. He received his Master’s in Econometrics from the Istanbul University and a second Master’s in Economics from the University of Ottawa prior to completing his PH.D. in Ottawa, Canada in 1995. Professor Atukeren has had teaching positions at the SBS (Swiss Business School) in Zürich; Bogaziçi University in Istanbul and the University of Ottawa. He has also worked for UBS AG in Economic Research and as a Senior Country Credit and Risk Analyst (Emerging Markets) as well as his current involvement with the ETH Zürich, Swiss Economic Institute as a Senior Researcher in Macroeconometric Modelling & Forecasting. Professor Atukeren is a prolific author of articles, research reports and publications in addition to a key –note speaker for conference and media presentations on topical global economic issues.
Richard Beswick
Associate ProfessorRichard Beswick (UK) is founder and Managing Director of bms Ltd, an international marketing consultancy with offices in Switzerland and the USA. Prior to founding bms in Switzerland in 1992, he held management positions in new product development, market research and marketing management with Simon Engineering, Gira, Biogen, E.M.S and Dow Chemical. Professor Beswick has published several articles in European and American management and technical journals and presented papers at numerous international conferences on various facets of international marketing and markets. He has also co-authored three books since 2000. Since 1990, Beswick has been teaching at the undergraduate and Master’s level for several universities across Europe, the United States and Australia in addition to running in-company management training programs for several major corporations. Professor Beswick teaches Competitive Positioning, Marketing Strategy and Market Research at BSL at the undergraduate and MBA level.
Nick Blake
Associated ProfessorNick Blake (UK) is a Swiss based consultant and lecturer specializing in marketing and supply change management. Prof. Blake has many years of experience as a strategic and tactical marketing professional running marketing organizations in several sectors of business, and has built and taught training programs for large companies. Prof. Blake is an English native now living in Switzerland where he runs a marketing consulting business, and is currently teaching at BBA, Master’s and MBA levels He currently divides his time between teaching at BSL in the MBA program and at the London School of Business and Finance in addition to his activities as a consultant and trainer for companies, largely in transportation and air cargo sectors.
Christopher H. Cordey
Associate Professor & Program Director for MSc in Luxury ManagementChristopher H. Cordey is a Swiss consultant and lecturer specialized in strategic foresight, change management and corporate responsibility. He teaches at Business School Lausanne since 2008. After an international corporate career in the Tobacco, Watch/Jewellery and Beauty industries, working for Philip Morris, Movado, Richemont and Clarins, since 2008, he advises C-level executives on strategic foresight, change management and Corporate Sustainability. He manages Wholebeauty SA, a boutique advisory firm offering foresight, ideation, change management and corporate sustainability services. He is the founding director of the Sustainable Luxury Forum, a membership led non-profit association that acts as a learning and sharing platform for Sustainable luxury practitioners, NGO, and the academic world. At Business School Lausanne in 2012 he became the Program Director of the MSc in Luxury Management. He also facilitates elective courses on “Leading Change”, “Ethics and Sustainability in Business” and “Entrepreneurship”. He also lectures at Geneva University CSR Executive Education and at International Management Institute in Kiev, in Ukraine.
Maurice Dent d’Almuano, MBA
Associate ProfessorMaurice Dent d’Almuano, MBA (Switzerland) is an experienced accountant and gifted accounting teacher at the bachelor program at BSL. His career includes projects as real estate broker and analyst. More recently, he established a firm where he works as a consultant for AIM (Academy of International Management).
Dr. Madelon Evers
Program Director Executive Diploma in Sustainable Business (BSL & University St. Gallen)Dr. Madelon Evers is a Dutch-Canadian consultant specialized in innovation and leadership, and based in Switzerland since 2008. She collaborates with Business School Lausanne since 2010. Her goal is to help people make a real difference in business and in the lives of others.
Since 1995 she has worked on the design of innovative systems and services, with multidisciplinary teams in the media, technology and financial sectors. In 2004, she completed a PhD on 'how to facilitate teams to contribute to organizational learning' at Nyenrode Business University in the Netherlands, sponsored 100% by Microsoft, Philips, SaraLee/DE, AtosOrigin and Achmea NV. As an independent consultant, Madelon has worked for clients like the BBC, EO, CSC, ICATT, Novartis, Novonordisk, AXA, Liberty Global, NHK, Chellomedia, de Baak, Toyota, Experian, NCRV, VGZ and others.
As a certified executive coach (since 2006), she supports leadership programs at business schools like BSL, IMD, and IUG in Switzerland and high potentials in-company.
Dr. Emmanuelle Fauchart
Associate ResearcherDr. Emmanuelle Fauchart is an Associate Researcher at BSL. She received her Ph.D from the University of Paris 1, Panthéon-Sorbonne, France, and is a former student of the Ecole Normale Supérieure of Cachan. Dr. Fauchart has had several teaching positions at the Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers in Paris, France; the University of Lausanne; and the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), in Switzerland. She has published articles in A+ journals such as the Academy of Management Journal and Organization Science. Her research topics cover the management of innovation, open and user innovation, entrepreneurship, and intellectual property strategy.
Dr. Daniel F. Fyfer
Senior ProfessorDr. Daniel Fyfer provides two graduate courses at Business School Lausanne, Strategic Thinking for General Managers and Creating Sustainable Value. Fyfer is Managing Associate for Pacosa Sàrl, Switzerland a business consulting company. His global professional background offers diverse business experiences rich in cultural insight. Fyfer previously worked in India as CEO of Bühler Ltd in food industry machines, in Taiwan as Divisional Manager for United Exporters (subsidiary of DKSH, Switzerland) in marketing of packaging machines, and in South Africa as Regional Marketing Manager for Nimrod International in industrial goods.
In 2006 Fyfer earned his Ph.D in Business Administration from California Coast University. Of South African descent, he holds an MBA and an Engineering Degree (Mechanical Design) from the University of Pretoria and a Bachelor’s in Science from Stellenbosch University. Fyfer is a seasoned business instructor, having taught business in Switzerland at Webster University and IFM in Geneva, SBS in Zürich and IUKB in Sion.
Christoph Gosdenoz
Associate ProfessorChristoph Gosdenoz is the founder of Gosdenoz Financial Studies and has several years of experience in the financial sector with BNP Paribas Private Bank and UBS. He holds a Master’s degree from the University of Geneva and is a Chartered Financial Analyst from the CFA Institute. He is currently completing his PHD thesis on “Takeovers of privately held targets” at the University of Neuchâtel in Switzerland. Professor Gosdenoz has worked in Switzerland, Mexico and Singapore specializing in Risk Management and Mergers & Acquisitions. His current professional activities include offering independent financial services to privately held companies and entrepreneurs in private equity and venture capital transactions. In addition to his professional and research activities, Professor Gosdenoz teaches Finance at the Master’s level at BSL with a focus on corporate finance and equity valuation methodologies.
Dr. David Gration
Senior ProfessorDavid Gration (UK) graduated in Industrial Sociology and Social Anthropology at the University of Manchester. He teaches HR, multicultural management, strategy and general management in companies, universities and schools, including BSL, for over 20 years. He also advises doctoral theses. Gration's broad professional experience includes a variety of international assignments and responsibilities for Standard Chartered Bank, International Computers, Rank Xerox from London, CERN and Digital in Geneva. He has worked in organisation strategy at the top levels of SCBL, Xerox Corporation and Gallaher (Benson & Hedges).
Michael Hathorn
Associate ProfessorMichael Hathorn is a senior partner of OPTIMIS Sarl, where he focuses on sustainable organizational strategy and organizational development. He teaches in the MBA program at Business School Lausanne since 2008. Previously working for an investment management firm, Capital International, Michael founded and headed the firms Learning and Organizational Development function for the European businesses. At TNT in Amsterdam, he served as Group Director of Learning and Organizational Development. He is a contributor to the World Business Council on Sustainable Development and is a member of the Society for Organizational Learning and the American Marketing Association. Hathorn is a graduate of Louisiana State University with an MS in Marketing andis currently a Ph.D candidate in International Business at the University of St. Gallen.
Alain Haut
Assoicate ProfessorAlain Haut (Belgium) has had an extensive career as a global executive in human resources and general management in the automotive, telecommunications and life sciences industries with companies such as Federal Mogul, GTE, Serono, Covance and Ipsen. He has lived in Belgium, France, Greece, United Kingdom and United States. He is founder and Managing Partner of O plc, a consultancy focused on business improvement leading to value creation through people, specializing in change management/facilitation, performance improvement and leadership development. Professor Haut has taught at university level as well as at global management education institutions in Europe and the United States. He is a Peer Reviewer for the accreditation of business schools and business programs with the European Foundation for Management Development. Professor Haut teaches at BSL at the BBA, MBA and Master levels in the fields of international business and human resource management.
Dr. Trevor J. Johnson
Senior ProfessorAfter serving as Dean of Business School Lausanne from 1994-2008, Dr. Trevor Johnson remains dedicated to business education using his business background to provide practical knowledge at BSL. Since 1991, Johnson has successfully operated a consultancy dedicated to the creation of marketing communications’ texts. Prior to this, Johnson acquired extensive experience with leading manufacturers of laboratory scientific instruments in England and Switzerland. Working for ARL (Applied Research Laboratories) Kontron, and Pye Unicam, Johnson held several positions including Business Manager, Product Manager and Export Area Manager.
Johnson earned an M.Sc. and Ph.D in Chemistry from the University of East Anglia in England. A British citizen, Johnson was elected as an Associate Member of the Royal Institute of Chemistry.
Dr. Edgar S. King
ProfessorDr. Edgar King is CEO of GM Development Sarl as well as Director of the Swiss branches of two mid-size UK recruitment companies. He began teaching at Business School Lausanne in 1996 and oversees BSL’s Entrepreneur track which includes collaboration for the Real Life Management Reports. In 1994, King established his first company, Securicard SA which was sold to Corner Bank, a large credit card issuing bank in Eastern Switzerland. In 2006 King jointly founded Inspirational Finance Ltd in London. He remains a major shareholder of IFL which specializes in training behavioural finance and commercial awareness in close collaboration with IFL’s partners Inspirational Development Group in London which has strong ties with the Royal Military Acadamy in Sandhurst. Prior to Securicard, King was the group Accounts Manager of United Aviation Services in Geneva where he was responsible for the consolidation of its 22 legal entities worldwide. He also spent several years as senior auditor at SGS as well as Finance Director for SGS in Venezuela.
A dual British and Swiss citizen, King holds an MBA from the Advanced Institute of Management (AIM) in Switzerland and a Doctorate in Entrepreneurship from BSL.
Claudia Kranefuss
Associate ProfessorClaudia Kranefuss is Partner, General Manager, Senior Trainer & Coach of ExtraMile Academy for Trainership and Coaching. She teaches in the MBA program at Business School Lausanne since 2008. Kranefuss began working with Personal Development Trainings and Coaching at Essence Trainings in 2000, and was from 2005 involved in the company’s Strategy as General Manager. In 2007, she co-founded ExtraMile Academy, to support business professionals to realize hidden human potential and power. Kranefuss worked for Berthelsmann publishing from 1992 to 1998 in international change project; as Marketing Manager for Wolters Kluwer and ANWB Publications from 1999 to 2005. Kranefuss has a Master’s Degree from Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam and holds the Dutch marketing degrees NIMA A and B. She is a graduate of the Universität Heidelberg and Westfälische Willems Universität in Muenster. Currently, she is enrolled in the DBA program at BSL on the topic of team empowerment.
Dr. Philippe Laurent
Associate ProfessorDr. Philippe Laurent started his career in sales and worked up to senior management for large international companies in countries such as Hong Kong, France, Switzerland, Vietnam and China. He has been a senior consultant in HR management, international business development and worked as an international coach. Dr. Laurent is a professor of management at several universities and advisor for intercultural management to the Council of Europe. He is currently teaching at Master’s and MBA level.
Dr. Patrick H. Lehner
Associate Professor
Dr. Patrick Lehner teaches the MBA course Managing a Business in a Down-Turn at Business School Lausanne. In 1991, Lehner founded The PL Project, an office dedicated to providing professional translations and interpretation services. Prior to The PL Project, Lehner was General Manager of the Computer-Expo exhibition in Lausanne. He has also served as Head of the Information Department for the International Savings Banks Institute in Geneva and as Manager of the French-Swiss Chamber of Commerce. A Swiss and French citizen, Lehner has a Doctorate from the University of Paris I Sorbonne, a Master of Sciences in Management from EAP-European School for Management Studies (today ESCP Europe), and a Bachelor's Degree in Economics from the University of Paris I Sorbonne. Managing a Business in a Down-Turn is co-taught by Professor Neil Rilett.
Dr. Ganesh Nathan
Professor
Dr. Ganesh Nathan, an Australian national and a Swiss resident, has extensive managerial experience in international management, business development and strategic marketing working with large international and multi-national companies both in Asia-Pacific and in Europe, including Central and Eastern European countries; companies include Nokia (Zurich), Swisscom (Bern) and Telstra (Sydney).
He is a member of Academy of Management (AOM), European Business Ethics Network (EBEN), and Political Studies Association (PSA), UK. He currently teaches Ethics for Business, International Business and Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability course modules for MSc in International Business (MIB) at BSL. His research includes a book published by Palgrave Macmillan in the UK in 2010 on the politics of multiculturalism entitled Social Freedom in a Multicultural State: Towards a Theory of Intercultural Justice and it was recently endorsed by Ms. Micheline Calmy-Rey, President of the Swiss Confederation. His current research topics and interests include responsible governance and leadership.
Professor Ganesh holds an MS (University of Texas) in Electrical Engineering, an MBA (University of Technology, Sydney), an MA (University of New South Wales, Sydney) in Cognitive Science and a PhD in Political Theory from Cardiff University, Great Britain.
Dr. Richard A. Pai
Senior ProfessorDr. Pai began teaching at Business School Lausanne in 1989. He is managing director of the consulting firm RP Associates Sarl where he facilitates investment ventures between Indian and European countries. Pai has over thirty years of corporate management experience including work with Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), Warner Electric International, Grace Industrial Chemicals, Motorola Europe and Gulf & Western International. Pai’s dedication to the academic world extends beyond BSL, with assignments at the Swiss Business School in Zurich and the American Graduate School of Business in Vevey.
Pai earned his Ph.D in Finance from the University of Lausanne and was a research associate for the IMD. A Swiss and Indian citizen, Pai holds a Master’s Degree in Economics from the University of Bombay, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of Madras.
Bryan Parker
Associate ProfessorBryan Parker joined Business School Lausanne’s teaching faculty in 2003 and currently gives the MBA course, Innovation & Creativity in Business Today. Parker brings extensive marketing & corporate strategy experience to BSL, having last served as managing director for the International Gold Corporation/World Gold Council, the marketing arm of the world’s largest gold mines. Prior to that, Parker worked for Procter & Gamble in Geneva, where he was responsible for marketing operations for various brands in Europe, the Middle East, the Far East and Australia.
Parker holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from West London College of Technology, now part of Thames Valley University. With an active interest in start-ups, Parker is a business angel belonging to the Go Beyond Network which assists young companies with advice and finance. Parker has dual nationality, being a citizen of both the UK and Switzerland.
Neil H. Rilett
Associate ProfessorProfessor Neil H. Rilett, a British national and a long-time Swiss resident, studied Economics at Cambridge College of Arts & Technology (UK) and obtained his MBA in 1990 at the European University in Switzerland. He began his career in teaching in 1978 in the UK and become an Associate Professor at BSL in the year 2000. Professor Rilett teaches Economics at the BBA and MBA level. Professor Rilett’s passion for Economics lead him to write 3 books that are widely used among teaching professionals.
Dr. Nicolas Rouiller
ProfessorDr. Nicolas Rouiller (Switzerland) completed his law degree at Lausanne University and his doctoral thesis at Basle University. After having worked in courts of justice and in a research institute on intellectual property, he started to practice the bar as an attorney; he is since 2003 partner of the law firm MCE Avocats. In parallel, he teaches commercial law in Switzerland and Russia and has published books on Swiss and European Law of Contracts and on the Law of Corporations.
Yiftach Sagiv
Associate ProfessorYiftach Sagiv gives the MBA module on Effective Self Management and co-instructs Advanced Communications Skills and Advanced Teamwork & Cooperation Skills at Business School Lausanne. After retiring from the Israeli military in 1975, Sagiv was shareholder and director of A.M.I. Supplies LTD, a company specializing in marketing and building constructions. In 1986 he managed the R&D department for a large company in textile products. In 1989 Sagiv became a coach and a trainer for personal and organizational development. He founded the Dutch company ExtraMile Academy and, since 2003, has dedicated himself to creating learning tracks in personal development and business performance.
Dr. J. Friedrich Sauerländer
Professor
J. Friedrich Sauerländer teaches the MBA course Governance of Family Businesses at Business School Lausanne. He brings BSL rich global experience in top management and board positions from international corporations and family businesses. His career in Switzerland and overseas has included senior posts with GEM Global Estate Managers, Ambrosetti Family & Business Governance, Rolex, André Group, SGS Group, Amindus Group and Alusuisse.
Sauerländer currently holds several board positions including, Chairman of the Board for Swissmetal Holding Ltd, Member of the Board for SCOR Holding, Chairman of the Board for Fondation PH Suisse, and Member of the Board for Foundation Médias et Société.
With Swiss and Australian citizenship, Sauerländer holds an MBA from the University of St. Gallen and a PhD in Economics from the University of Freiburg (Germany).
Dr. Amir O. Schenouda
Senior ProfessorDr. Amir O. Schenouda (Egypt / The Netherlands) has thirty years experience in telecommunications operations with Philips (NL) and UN /ITU (Geneva) and projects development and MIS with UN /ILO, the World Bank and the Sema-Metra group. He subsequently founded Corisa SA (IT business consulting company) in Geneva.
Véronique Sikora, MBA
Associate ProfessorVéronique Sikora, MBA (Canada / Switzerland) facilitates Business Communications, Organisational Behaviour & Knowledge Management. Her experience begins in Canada where she worked a number of years for Customs & Excise Canada and in Tourism. In Switzerland she has worked in Tourism and Education.
Jean-Stéphane Szijarto
Associate Professor
Jean-Stéphane Szijarto is an independent coach and consultant and lectures the course Project Management at Business School Lausanne. Szijarto began consultancy services in 2002 and has provided career assessment and developmental courses at EPFL and IMD. In 1995, Szijarto founded JS Technologies, an internet based service company which partnered with IBM and provided services for companies such as Banque Pictet & Cie, Groupe Mutuel, McDonald’s Switzerland and the Vendôme Group. In 2000 his firm was acquired by Systor. Szijarto has served as the Chief Technical Officer for Albert, Inc., a Project Leader and Systems Engineer for IBM Switzerland, and as a Delegate for the International Committee of the Red Cross.
A Swiss citizen, Szijarto has an MBA from HEC Lausanne and a Master’s in Science in Electrical Engineering from the Swiss Institute of Technology (EPFL).
Dr. Alkis E. Tsiklis
Senior Professor & MSc Finance Program DirectorDr. Alkis Tsiklis (Greek-Swiss) began teaching at Business School Lausanne in 1990. Recently Dr. Tsiklis has been made Director of the MSc in Finance program. Tsiklis, who is currently heading Geneva Consult, a company providing consulting services, is a senior international consultant for EuropeAid and UNDP projects. He has 30 years of international professional experience in financial management and consulting and has held senior executive positions with Animex (France), ATEPE (Greece) and EE International (CH). A Swiss citizen, Tsiklis is a graduate of Worcester Polytechnic Institute (MA, USA) with a Bachelor’s in Science and a MSc in Civil Engineering. Tsiklis holds an MBA in Finance from Webster University (MO, USA) and has earned a DBA at Business School Lausanne.
Dr. Cristina Vasile
Associate ProfessorDr. Cristina Vasile specializes in advanced financial accounting, managerial accounting, consolidated accounts, creative accounting and finance. She has extensive experience as a business economics trainer at university level. Dr. Vasile She has worked as a lecturer and has ongoing collaborations with universities in the UK and the USA. She works as a consultant for companies in Switzerland and the USA, and for the European Commission Institutes of Brussels and other Eastern countries. Dr. Vasile teaches at both BBA and Master’s level.
Victor. A. Yerris
ProfessorDr. Victor Yerris (Portugal/Kenya) is a Swiss based financial Investment Manager with Citi Private Bank as well as professor at several universities in the Léman region. Dr. Yerris completed his Master’s degree at the University of Zürich and his DBA at Swiss Business School. In addition to his academic credentials in Banking and Finance, Dr. Yerris has also completed Level I & II of the Chartered Financial Analyst program and is a member of the CFA Institute. He has worked in the financial industry with UBS AG and Ernst & Young AG specializing in Portfolio analysis and strategy as well as risk evaluation. Yerris has also published several financial papers and speeches where he develops further his research focus on Traditional versus Behavioral finance. He teaches Finance courses at the Masters level at BSL.