BSL Faculty Members
Dr. Katrin Muff
Dean of Business School LausanneDr. Katrin Muff was appointed Dean of Business School Lausanne in 2008 after completing her DBA in business administration from the University of Mannheim and BSL. Serving as Dean, Muff ensures real-life business direction at BSL by merging her entrepreneurial and corporate background with the academic world by centering 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 Master’s and Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Business School Lausanne. She is a speaker at international conferences on topic of leadership in business, executive coaching, developing future leaders and sustainable entrepreneurship. At BSL, she is responsible for all academic programs, spearheads the doctorate program and co-teaches the entrepreneurship track of the MBA & EMBA programs.
Georges Knell
Associate DeanGeorges Knell is the Associate Dean at Business School Lausanne. He began instructing Marketing Essentials and Competitive Positioning for the MBA program at BSL in 2009 and he 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.
Prior, Knell held the position of Marketing Director for Bongrain SA, where he managed a team of 15 and a multi-million dollar marketing budget. Headhunted to join Match Supermarkets, Knell 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, Knell is a Chartered Marketer from the Chartered Institute of Marketing. He earned his MBA at the London Business School.
Christopher H. Cordey
Associate ProfessorChristopher Cordey is a Strategic Catalyst Consultant and began teaching the MBA course Leading Change and Turn-Around Management for Business School Lausanne in 2009. Cordey has over 20 years of experience in the luxury goods and beauty industries, having held key positions for Clarins Group, Richemont Group, Movado Watch Group, and FJD Swiss Jewellery K.K. Japan. In his last position as a Business Development Director for Clarins, Cordey was responsible for an annual retail budget of 50 million Euros and a team of 40. Cordey currently offers consultancy services through WholeBeauty SA and is the exclusive distributor of Good Corporation assessment tools for the Swiss market.
A Swiss citizen, Cordey holds a Master’s of Science in Management from HEC Lausanne, a Business Diploma from the Asian Institute of Management in the Philippines and a Diploma on Corporate Social Responsibility from Geneva University.
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. 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.
Dr. David Gration
Senior ProfessorDr. David Gration (UK) studied in Manchester (UK). He teaches HR and multicultural management. His broad professional experience in the field of HR includes a variety of assignments for companies like Standard Chartered Bank, International Computers Ltd, Rank Xerox in London, CERN and Digital in Geneva.
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.
Claudia S. Kary
Associate ProfessorClaudia Kary is managing director of Profeo Ltd., a company she founded in 2001. Profeo is the first company dedicated to supporting clients with the implementation of OGC (Office of Government Commerce) Best Practices, with focus on companies within the European community, Eastern Europe and Switzerland. British American Tobacco, Bern University Hospital and the United Nations are among Profeo’s clients. Prior to Profeo, Kary was the Process Owner for Systor’s Project Management Process. Kary is a member of the Swiss and German Project Management Association. She is certified as a Management Coach, as a Senior Project Manager. At BSL she co-teaches the MBA course Project Management.
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 behavioral 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 CEO of Essence Trainings. She co-instructs Effective Self Management and gives the MBA modules on Advanced Communications Skills and Advanced Teamwork & Cooperation Skills at Business School Lausanne. Kranefuss began working with Essence Trainings as a co-trainer in 2000, and as CEO, she is now responsible for the company’s strategy. Prior to Essence Trainings, Kranefuss worked for ANWB Publications, where she served as Marketing Manager until 2001, when she became a Publisher for the group. 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.
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
ProfessorDr. Ganesh Nathan, an Australian by nationality and a Swiss resident, has extensive 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. He has held senior managerial positions with Nokia (Zurich), Swisscom (Bern) and Telstra (Sydney).
He is a member of Academy of Management (AOM), European Business Ethics Network (EBEN), and European Group for Organizational Studies (EGOS). He has presented research papers in various conferences and colloquiums. His research work includes a forthcoming book to be published by Palgrave Macmillan in the UK in 2010 on the politics of multiculturalism titled Social Freedom in a Multicultural State: Towards a theory of Intercultural Justice.
Dr. Nathan 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.
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 Essence Training and, since 2003, has dedicated himself to creating learning tracks in personal development and business performance.
Dr. Amir Osiris Schenouda
Senior ProfessorDr. Amir Osiris 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 ProfessorJean-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 ProfessorDr. Alkis Tsiklis began teaching at Business School Lausanne in 1990. Tsiklis, who is currently heading GenevaConsult, 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 Master’s in Science in Civil Engineering. Tsiklis holds an MBA in Finance from Webster University (MO, USA) and has earned a DBA at Business School Lausanne.