Josef Zechner

Josef Zechner is a Senior Professor of Finance and Investments at WU Vienna University of Economics and Business. He serves as Co-Head of the Research Institute for Capital Markets (ISK) and speaker of the Vienna Graduate School of Finance (VGSF). His research integrates corporate finance with asset pricing, focusing on default risk, ownership structure effects, and social preferences. Zechner has held academic positions at the University of Vienna and the University of British Columbia. He is a prominent figure in finance associations, including the European Finance Association and Society for Financial Studies. His work has been recognized globally, including the ScholarGPS Top Scholar 2024 (top 0.5% worldwide) and the Sharpe Award for best paper in JFQA 2021.

Research interests include corporate debt structure, governance in asset management, and the impact of social preferences on corporate decisions. Notable contributions include dynamic capital structure models, IPO mechanisms, and ESG-related investment effects. Zechner’s affiliations include IQAM Invest as a founding partner and scientific board member. His publications span leading journals such as the Journal of Finance and Review of Financial Studies, addressing topics from credit risk to delegated portfolio management.

Awards highlight his influence: top cited JFQA and Journal of Finance papers, plus advisory roles at the European Systemic Risk Board. His work bridges theory and practice, with applied studies on post-COVID corporate finance and market dynamics.