Following a rigorous international search, Western University has announced the appointment of Robert (Bob) Kennedy as the new dean of the Ivey Business School. His five-year term begins Oct. 1.
Kennedy comes to Western and Ivey immediately following a 10-year career at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, where he has served in multiple roles that included Executive Director of the William Davidson Institute, Director of the Ross School Global Initiative and the Tom Lantos Professor of Business Administration.
“While Bob’s distinguished academic career, leadership experience, and professional background speak for themselves, I can add that his candidacy for dean enjoyed a strong endorsement from our campus community,” said Janice Deakin, Western provost and vice-president (academic). “We are very confident in Bob’s abilities to provide creative and effective leadership for Ivey as it continues to build upon the strength of its reputation as a globally recognized business school.”
Prior to his tenure at Michigan, Kennedy was a faculty member at Harvard Business School from 1995 through 2003. He holds a PhD in Business Economics from Harvard University, a Master’s of Science in Management from MIT’s Sloan School of Management, and two undergraduate degrees in Political Science and Economics from Stanford University.
“I am honoured and humbled to be appointed Dean of Western’s Ivey Business School,” said Kennedy. “Ivey is known as a global leader with commitment to research, teaching and engagement with the real world, particularly in its commitment to Case Method Learning. This is how I’ve managed my career and I am thrilled to have an opportunity to work with this community of scholars, students, practitioners and alumni.”
Recognized as an expert on the globalization of service activities (offshoring) and using business frameworks to address social issues (social enterprise), Kennedy has published more than 110 case studies related to international and emerging market business issues. His teaching materials are employed at business schools around the world, with annual sales figures consistently exceeding 50,000 copies.
Beyond his academic career, Kennedy has consulted privately for dozens of clients on five continents on a range of strategic and executive development issues. He has also held various management positions, dating back to 1984, with firms including Enterprise Investors (Warsaw, Poland), Quantum Associates, Inc. (Lynnfield, MA), and The Chase Manhattan Bank (New York).
“I want to congratulate provost Deakin and the selection committee for their work in recruiting such an exceptional new dean to our business school,” said Western President Amit Chakma. “Building on the strong leadership Ivey has enjoyed over the past decade under Carol Stephenson, we are well positioned to continue expanding the reach and impact of our teaching and research on the international stage.”
Prior to his decanal appointment taking effect, Kennedy will join Western the month of September, in a seconded position as Special Advisor to the Provost.
