Jordi Canals

Jordi Canals is a Professor of Strategic Management at IESE Business School, University of Navarra, where he holds the IESE Foundation Chair in Corporate Governance. He served as the Director General of IESE from 2001 to September 2016. Professor Canals is an internationally recognized expert in corporate governance, strategic management, and globalization, with extensive research on board effectiveness and organizational adaptation to disruptive forces.

His educational background includes a Doctorate in Economic and Business Sciences from the University of Barcelona and a Post-Doctoral Fellowship at Harvard Business School. He has held prestigious visiting positions including Guest Scholar at the International Monetary Fund, Visiting Scholar at the World Bank, and Guest Scholar at the Brookings Institution, enriching his global perspective on economic and governance issues.

Professor Canals' research focuses on the evolving role of boards of directors in disruptive times, examining how governance structures can adapt to technological changes, geopolitical shifts, and ESG considerations. His work on corporate purpose explores how organizations can balance financial performance with broader societal impact, while his research on AI's implications for management practices addresses contemporary leadership challenges. His methodology combines rigorous academic analysis with practical insights from extensive board surveys and case studies of leading organizations.

Professor Canals has authored numerous influential publications including books such as Boards of Directors in Disruptive Times (Cambridge University Press, 2023), The Future of Management in an AI World (Palgrave MacMillan, 2019), and Building Respected Companies (Cambridge University Press, 2010). His recent work shows a clear trend toward examining governance in increasingly complex environments, with particular attention to geopolitical disruptions, social enterprise governance, and the strategic implications of emerging technologies.

Professor Canals has served on the boards of GMAC, the European Corporate Governance Institute, the European Institute for Advanced Studies in Management, and the European Foundation for Management Development. He is a founding member of the European Shadow Financial Regulatory Committee and served on the Spanish Government's Corporate Governance Commission established in July 2002, demonstrating his significant influence on governance practices at both organizational and policy levels.