Simon Ashbourne

Marketing Instructor
Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto

A founding partner of Toronto-based sales and marketing consulting group MCG, Professor Simon Ashbourne teaches part time in the MBA and EMBA programs at the Rotman School of Management. As a MCG principal, Professor Ashbourne focuses on the marketing and sales disciplines in such industries as pharmaceuticals, consumer packaged goods and retail. He has also had profit and loss as well as people management responsibilities as the leader of a business unit of over 50 people. Prior to MCG, he was a principal at Towers Perrin and before that a partner at Tandem International, then the leading sales and marketing consulting firm in Canada.

A part of the India Module.

Prof. David Beatty, M.A., O.B.E.

Conway Director, Clarkson Centre for Business Ethics & Board Effectiveness, Professor of Strategic Management, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto

An adventure capitalist for the last two decades, Professor Beatty is the former president of Weston Foods and a founding Chair of Orogen Mineral Resources. He has worked in the Central Planning Office of Tanzania and as an economic advisor to the Prime Minister of New Guinea. As Director of Planning, he helped create the country's economic infrastructure.

Professor Beatty serves on boards of the Bank of Montreal (where he chairs the Risk Review Committee), FirstService Corporation, Goldcorp, Husky Injection Molding and Inmet Mining (where he is lead director).  He spent a decade on the board of Peter Drucker's Foundation in California, serving as vice chairman.  Currently, Professor Beatty is the Managing Director of the Canadian Coalition for Good Governance, which promotes best corporate governance practices and aligns the interests of boards and management with those of the shareholders.

As well as teaching in the Rotman School’s Executive MBA programs, Professor Beatty teaches strategy in large diversified corporations.

A part of the Foundation Module and North America Module.

Prof. Marc Burbridge, M.A.

Coordinator for the Center for Negotiation, Mediation and Arbitration at Business School São Paulo

Professor Marc Burbridge has over 30 years' experience as an executive and consultant for large American, European and Brazilian corporations in the development of new business activities in Brazil. A widely published author on intercultural communications and negotiation management, he was a senior associate for a major US consulting group prior to becoming a permanent resident of Brazil. In Brazil, Professor Burbridge has served as country manager for a US firm, general manager of a business for a large Brazilian industrial group, and partner in several consulting companies.

A part of the Brazil Module.

Dr. Tomas Casas, B.Sc., MBA, Ph.D.

Lecturer, Institute for Leadership and HR Management
University of St. Gallen

Professor Tomas Casas has expertise in theoretical entrepreneurship models, business practices in Chinese firms and behaviorist economics. His extensive business experience includes having founded various IT and software firms in greater China as well as operational companies in Beijing, Shanghai, Taipei, Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Manila. He has worked as a project manager in international business development for the NEC Corporation in Tokyo and as an international trade consultant for the Wharton Export Network in Philadelphia.

A part of the China Module.

Prof. Beatrix Dart, Ph.D.

Professor of Strategic Management, Academic Director, Omnium Global Executive MBA Program,
Executive Director, Initiative for Women in Business
Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto

Professor Beatrix Dart teaches strategic marketing, strategy and growth related projects. She joined the Rotman School as Academic Director of Executive MBA Programs in 2000, after working six years at McKinsey & Company in Zurich, London and Toronto.  As Academic Director, Professor Dart is responsible for faculty appointments and for the design and strategic development of Omnium and other Executive MBA programs.

A part of the North America Module and India Module.

Prof. Jim Fisher, MBA

CCMF Chair in Entrepreneurship, Professor of Strategic Management, Vice Dean, MBA Programs & Executive Education, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto

Three times voted “Teacher of the Year” by the second-year MBA classes, Professor Jim Fischer teaches leadership, strategy and organization design in the MBA, Executive MBA and Executive Development Programs. He brings extensive practical business experience to the classroom. Having worked with McKinsey & Company, Professor Fisher co-founded the Canada Consulting Group, the country's largest Canadian-owned strategy firm before it merged with the Boston Consulting Group.  He joined George Weston Limited in 1986 and served as Executive Vice President of Weston Foods, Chairman and President of William Neilson Limited and President of George Weston North American Bakeries.  Currently he serves on a numbers of boards, including Canadian Tire Corporation, Atlas Cold Storage and the ICD Corporate Governance College. He graduated from the University of Toronto with a BA in political science and economics and from Harvard University with an MBA.

A part of the Foundation Module and North America Module.

Prof. Heather Fraser

Director, Design Initiatives, Centre for Integrative Thinking, Adjunct Professor of Business Design, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto

Heather teaches business design at the Rotman school, runs the Designworks Studio for MBA students and conducts executive education workshops. With 10 years at Procter & Gamble and 15 years in the branding and communications design business (including at her own agency, TAXI Advertising & Design), she brings a wealth of business design experience from industry. She focuses on translating the best practices of design from leading educational institutions and practitioners around the world into learning programs and tools that can enhance strategy and business innovation.

A part of the North America Module.

Prof. Walid Hejazi, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, International Business, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto

Professor Walid Hejazi’s research interests focus on the interaction between globalization and economic growth. He has written on the importance of trade, foreign investment, human capital accumulation and financial and institutional development for the growth experience of a large number of countries. He has examined, in particular, the strategies pursued by multinationals, and the effects these strategies have had on home and host economies, especially as they relate to the diffusion of technology. His most recent work addresses the social, economic and fiscal problems posed by the rapidly aging populations of East Asia and makes policy recommendations for pension reform. Professor Hejazi has advised the governments of several developing countries on the formulation of optimal monetary and fiscal policies.

A part of the Foundation Module.

Prof. Dr. Martin Hilb

Professor of Business Administration, Managing Director, Institute for Leadership and Human Resource Management, University of St.Gallen

Professor Martin Hilb is an expert in corporate governance. He has consulted on board and human resources management in more than 50 countries and published ground-breaking governance research gaining widespread notice. He acquired his practical business experience with Nestlé SA in Switzerland, Martin & Co in Berlin and Schering-Plough Corporation, USA. He ultimately served as the director of Germany’s Essex Chemie AG. His teaching experience has included engagements at the University of Dallas, the SMU in Singapore and the EIASM in Brussels. He has also conducted research at UBC in Vancouver and the MGSM in Sydney.

A part of the Europe Module.

Prof. Doug Hyatt, Ph.D.

Professor of Business Economics, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto

Professor Doug Hyatt teaches micro- and macroeconomics for Omnium and other Rotman Executive MBA programs. His research interests are primarily in the area of labour economics, particularly wage and employment determination. Professor Hyatt applies his expertise in legal disputes involving the valuation of economic losses, and to music and publishing copyright tariff matters.

A part of the Brazil Module and India Module.

Prof. Heather-Anne Irwin, MBA

Adjunct Professor of Finance, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto

Professor Heather-Anne Irwin began teaching Finance at the Rotman School in 2003. Since then she has been named Rotman MBA professor of the year (an MBA Graduate Business Council Award) on two separate occasions. Professor Irwin brings to her teaching the benefits of 16 years’ experience as an investment banker (both in finance and M&A), new issue equity specialist and bond trader.  Her former employers include Citicorp (New York) & Citibank Canada, Nesbitt Burns and TD Securities. Professor Irwin is the founding president of Women in Capital Markets.

A part of the North America Module.

Wolfgang Jenewein, Ph.D.

Director of Studies, EMBA, Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Leadership and Human Resource Management, University of St. Gallen

Before joining the academic world, Professor Wolfgang Jenewein spent several years with Roland Berger & Partner in Munich where he managed a number of strategy, leadership and HR projects. He also worked for the UBS AG in the department of corporate human resources where he was responsible for a global mobility program. Today he consults for various firms in the area of corporate leadership.

A part of the Brazil Module and Europe Module.

Prof. Santiago Kraiselburd, Ph.D.

Professor of Operations,
Instituto de Empresa, Madrid

As well as teaching at the Instituto de Empresa in Madrid, Professor Santiago Kraiselburd is the Executive Director of the Zaragoza Logistics Center and a Research Affiliate at the MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics. Beyond his academic credentials, Dr. Kraiselburd has a rich corporate experience, having worked with 4Rsystems, Citibank, Aerolineas Argentinas and Arthur Andersen among other firms.

A part of the Brazil Module.

Prof. John Oesch, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Organizational Behaviour, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto

Professor John Oesch teaches negotiation, decision making, organizational behavior, organizational change and team building at the Rotman School.  His research interests encompass negotiation, decision making and organizational justice.

A part of the Foundation Module and North America Module.

Prof. Rick Powers, MBA, LLB

Assistant Dean and Executive Director, MBA Programs
Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto

A recipient of numerous teaching awards, Professor Rick Powers is an expert in corporate governance, ethics, business and corporate law and sports marketing. He is an Academic Director of the Directors Education Program and the Governance Essentials Program (in partnership with the Institute of Corporate Directors – ICD). He is also a director of several not-for-profit organizations and frequently comments on legal and governance issues in various media across Canada. Professor Powers is currently completing his doctoral studies in Higher Education at the University of Toronto.

A part of the Europe Module.

Prof. Elfed Vaughan Roberts

Associate Professor, University of Hong Kong

For most of more than 29 years of working and travelling widely in Asia, Professor Elfed Vaughan Roberts has lectured at the University of Hong Kong in the field of international relations with particular emphasis on East Asia. Since resigning his full-time post in 1996, he has been lecturing primarily on Asian business environments and business communications. In recent years, the Business School of the University of Hong Kong has granted him several best lecturer awards.

Professor Roberts has a distinguished publication record, which includes a large number of articles and books on the region. His work involves regular field trips to the People’s Republic of China, where he was elected honorary professor at the University of Inner Mongolia in March 2004. He regularly briefs both Chinese and Western executives on the various aspects of cross-cultural business communications. He was also a television presenter for ten years.

A part of the China Module.

Prof. Dr. T. Flemming Ruud

Professor of Auditing, University of St. Gallen and University of Zurich

Professor T. Flemming Ruud’s expertise encompasses internal and external auditing, financial issues of corporate governance, internal control and risk management. As well as teaching in several Executive MBA programs, including Omnium, Dr. Ruud is an advisor to European governments, businesses, academic institutions and auditing firms. He is a recipient of the Leon R. Radde Educator of the Year Award.

Professor Ruud was formerly an associate professor in auditing at the Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration, Bergen, and full professor at the Norwegian School of Management, Oslo, Norway, where he is now adjunct professor.

A part of the India Module and Europe Module.

Prof. Thorsten Truijens, MBA, Ph.D.

University of St. Gallen

Professor Thorsten Truijens is a consultant and practitioner of financial management and value-generation strategies and has worked for large multinationals including Cap Gemini Ernst and Young, DaimlerChrysler, Merck and Novartis. He has taught at Harvard Business School, University Witten/Herdecke, Eidgenössisch Technishe Hochschule, Centre Européen de Management Colmar and University of St Gallen (HSG). In addition, he has worked on several training projects in areas including financial and management accounting training and leads top management seminars in finance and accounting for leading European institutions.

A part of the China Module.

Prof. Christian Wagner, Ph.D.

Associate Dean, Faculty of Business, Professor, Department of Information Systems, City University of Hong Kong

Professor Christian Wagner has more than 20 years of experience in IT research and development. His research interests are knowledge management, information systems for executives, innovation and collaborative systems. He has led numerous funded research projects on these topics and has authored more than 60 related articles. At present, he is completing a project on knowledge management with wikis for the Society for Information Management Advanced Practices Council.

Prof. Wagner received his Ph.D. in Business Administration from the University of British Columbia in 1989. Thereafter he spent seven years as a faculty member at the University of Southern California, before joining City University in January 1996. In 2000, Wagner took leave from CityU to become co-founder and chief technology officer for a venture-capital funded software start-up in California. He returned to CityU after the company successfully received second round funding. Prof. Wagner is a previous CityU Teaching Excellence Award winner and has also taught at the University of British Columbia, Tsinghua University and Fudan University.

A part of the China Module.

Prof. Li Kui-Wai, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, City University of Hong Kong

Economist and Omnium Guest Lecturer Li Kui-Wai is a specialist in Asian financial and economic development, industry and trade. His books include The Hong Kong Economy: From Recovery to Restructure (2005), Capitalist Development and Economism in East Asia: the Rise of Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and South Korea (2002) and Financial Repression and Economic Reform in China (1994). Professor Li has worked as a consultant to international institutions, foreign governments and business, and is regularly interviewed by local and foreign press, radio and television on Hong Kong, Mainland China and foreign issues.

A part of the China Module.

Lionel F. Laroche, Ph. D.

President, MCB Solutions

Omnium guest lecturer Dr. Lionel Laroche specializes in helping professionals and organizations reap the benefits of cultural differences in their work. Over the past eight years, he has provided cross-cultural training, coaching and consulting services to over 10,000 people in the Americas, Europe and Asia. He is the author of over 100 publications examining the impact of cultural differences on business, including Managing Cultural Diversity in Technical Professions (2002). His Recruiting, Retaining and Promoting Culturally Diverse Employees is due in 2006.

Dr. Laroche has 15 years of international engineering, management, sales and human resources experience, working with people from over 60 countries. He has worked in eight different countries for several multinational companies, including Xerox, Procter & Gamble, British Petroleum and Jeumont-Schneider. He was educated at the Ecole Polytechnique in Paris and the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, California.

A part of the Foundation Module.

Prof. Gu Qing-Liang, MBA

Professor, Deputy Director, Institute of Textile Economics, Business School, Dong Hua University, Shanghai

Omnium guest lecturer Professor Gu Qing-Liang is an expert on the Chinese apparel and textile industry. A former visiting scholar at the University of Maryland and Auburn University, Professor Gu has conducted ground-breaking research on Chinese apparel companies who are successfully pursuing corporate social responsibility strategies.

A part of the China Module.

Prof. J. Mark Weber

Assistant Professor of Organizational Behaviour
Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto

Professor Mark Weber’s research interests include cooperation, trust, negotiations, the role of values in decision-making, and social and organizational identity processes. Although his research focuses on social psychology in organizations, he also has a special interest in how micro-level processes drive meso and macro-level phenomena (e.g., how solitary normative actors can change cooperation in groups; how individual, values-based identification can lead to long-term strategic advantage for firms; how individual-level dependencies shape interorganizational trust relationships, etc.). Professor Weber’s areas of teaching and training expertise include negotiations, decision making, conflict management, and organizational behaviour.

A part of the Foundation Module.