IMD Appoints Professor Arturo Bris to Head the IMD World Competitiveness Center

LAUSANNE, Switzerland, January 16, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

Center plans to develop new research and benchmarking services

IMD (http://www.imd.org/ ), a top-ranked global business school based in Switzerland, today announced the appointment of Arturo Bris (http://www.imd.org/about/facultystaff/bris.cfm ) as the new director of the IMD World Competitiveness Center (http://www.imd.org/wcc/ ) (WCC).

Professor Bris, who is Spanish, has been a professor of Finance at IMD since 2005 and frequently comments in global media on competitiveness issues. In his new role he will direct the publication of the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook, which celebrated its 25th anniversary last year and is recognized as the leading annual report on the competitiveness of nations.

In addition, the WCC under Professor Bris plans to strengthen and develop other research and benchmarking services. These include creating customized competitiveness indices for companies and industries, helping governments prioritize national and regional competitiveness strategies, and boosting the WCC's online offering.

Professor Bris said: "This appointment is a great honor and a wonderful opportunity. Competitiveness has risen to the top of the agenda for global business leaders, and I'm convinced that the WCC can add real value to IMD's world-leading executive education programs."

Professor Bris takes over from Professor Stéphane Garelli, who had led the WCC since its creation in 1989 and who will remain at IMD as a professor of World Competitiveness.

Professor Garelli said: "After creating and managing the WCC during these groundbreaking years, I felt it was now time to ensure that a next stage of development takes place with a newer team. Success is exhilarating, but it creates a risk of conformism and complacency. Arturo has the energy and the passion to bring the WCC to new highs."

IMD President Dominique Turpin said: "The WCC is a huge asset for IMD, and all of us at the school would like to thank Stéphane for his sterling 25-year contribution. I'm confident that Arturo will create a new direction for the WCC that builds on this excellent legacy."

The WCC will release its 2014 world competitiveness rankings in May 2014.

For more information contact:
Alessandro Sofia    
IMD Head of Communications
Tel: +41(0)21-618-06-36                            
pressroom@imd.org