Johan MAES

Professor Johan MAES is a Full Professor in the Department of Human Resource Management at IÉSEG School of Management. He also holds an academic director role and serves as a Visiting Professor at KU Leuven, Belgium. His academic journey includes a Ph.D. in Applied Economics (KU Leuven, 2006) and earlier degrees from the same institution. His research focuses on strategic HRM, turnover, human capital theory, and entrepreneurship. He has published extensively in journals like Journal of Small Business Management and European Management Review.

• Education:
  • Ph.D. in Applied Economics, KU Leuven, 2006
  • Master in Management Engineering, KU Leuven, 1998
  • Bachelor in Management Sciences, KU Leuven, 1995

His research explores how human and social capital influence entrepreneurship outcomes, including start-up performance and internationalization. Notable contributions include studies on founder team dynamics, export intensity drivers, and healthcare information systems under technological uncertainty. He has received prestigious awards such as the 2018 Best Quantitative Paper Award (ACERE) and the 2015 European Management Review Best Paper Award.

His teaching spans HR analytics, strategic HRM, and managing employee turnover. He collaborates with the LEM research group at IÉSEG and has authored/co-authored books on entrepreneurship and HR practices in SMEs. Professional experience includes roles as a postdoctoral fellow and researcher at KU Leuven, contributing to policy-relevant studies on small business performance and labor markets in Flanders.