MBS appoints Zeger Degraeve as new Dean

May, 2011

Melbourne Business School has appointed a new Dean and Director, UK-based Professor Zeger Degraeve, after a six-month global search.

Professor Degraeve comes to Melbourne from London Business School – one of the world’s top business schools - where he has served in senior leadership roles and was instrumental in establishing the school’s Dubai Centre.

The Chairman of the Melbourne Business School Board, Peter Barnes, said in addition to his award-winning research and teaching, Professor Degraeve impressed members of the selection panel with his commitment to innovation.

 “As business schools around the world rethink management education, we are privileged to have  Professor Degraeve’s academic leadership and international expertise,” Mr Barnes said.

“These will be indispensable as MBS builds on its status as a leader in management education in the Asia Pacific region, and works towards becoming one of the world’s top 20 MBA institutions.”

The Belgian-born professor of decision sciences, who has a passion for operations research and teaching, begins his initial four-year term in November. He replaces Professor Jennifer George, who is expecting her first child.

“Jennifer has done an outstanding job during her two years at the helm of MBS, substantially strengthening our financial position and our academic reputation. The Board is indebted to her for her leadership and counsel through that time, and we look forward to welcoming her back to MBS in 2012 in a senior academic role,” Mr Barnes said.

The Interim Dean is Professor Paul Dainty.

From the UK, Professor Degraeve said he was delighted at the prospect of moving to Melbourne and leading Australia’s pre-eminent management education institution.

 “MBS has a world-class faculty that is passionate about teaching and research, with deep links to the business community; an exceptional executive education business; and an internationally diverse, experienced student body. It’s a great honour to be joining an institution with a great heritage and an even more promising future,” Professor Degraeve said.

Welcoming Professor Degraeve’s appointment, University of Melbourne Vice-Chancellor Professor Glyn Davis said “the business administration and education skills and the networks he had developed in some of the world’s leading educational institutions, such as the London Business School and the University of Chicago, would help keep MBS at the forefront of business education in Australia and globally.’’

Prof. Zeger Degraeve at a glance:

  • Inaugural chair, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Chair for Innovation, London Business School
  • Founder and faculty director Dubai-London programs, London Business School in Dubai, UAE
  • Former deputy dean, London Business School.
  • Visiting professorships at Columbia University, Tuck School of Business
  • PhD, Business Administration, The University of Chicago
  • MSc in Engineering and MBA, Universities of Ghent and Leuven, Belgium

About Melbourne Business School

Established by corporate Australia, Melbourne Business School has a 50-year history in management education. Australia’s first and only independent business school, it is now a joint enterprise between the University of Melbourne, Australian corporations and philanthropists.  It is a leading provider of executive education in the Asia Pacific region and one of Australia’s top MBA schools. MBS is accredited globally by AACSB International and Equis.

More Information:

Media contact: Elisabeth Lopez, +61 3 9349 8335/ cell +61 (0)439 691 891

Picture: Professor Zeger Degraeve