About

Anouk Lavoie conducts research on family enterprises and develops learning content and pedagogical tools for family business-focused programs. She also orchestrates the IMD Global Family Business Award.

She is an experienced researcher and writer who has worked extensively with senior executives on a broad range of topics including corporate governance, family business, leadership, and digital transformation.

Her core areas of expertise are qualitative analysis, diagnostics, and practitioner-oriented field research. She has also worked with the Federal Polytechnic Institute of Lausanne (EPFL), where she developed graduate-level curricula for online learning.

Matthew Crudgington is a distinguished professional who orchestrates the intricate web of relationships with affluent business families, eminent family offices, and pivotal strategic partners.

At IMD since 2015, Crudgington has been the architect of educational odysseys, and he ensures the seamless integration of design and execution within the IMD Global Family Business Centre’s framework.

An alumnus of the prestigious Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL), he has cultivated a robust management portfolio across diverse sectors including health and leisure, FinTech, and the sphere of academia. His work at EHL was marked by his influential role as Head of Alumni and Partnerships, where he steered EHL’s vibrant and expansive alumni network toward new horizons.

His exceptional interpersonal, communication, and leadership abilities are complemented by an unwavering optimism. A passionate sports enthusiast and a mentor at heart, he dedicates himself to coaching football, shaping both the minds and talents of aspiring athletes.

Nathalie Martin stands at the forefront of empowering family enterprises, guiding them to harness innovative educational strategies that fortify their legacy and ensure a resilient future.

As an esteemed graduate of the École Hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL), holding a Bachelor’s degree in hospitality and business management, Martin’s expertise is rooted in a prestigious academic foundation. Her tenure with IMD Operations, combined with her pivotal role as Lead Program Coordinator for Family Business Programs, reflects her deep comprehension of the intricate tapestry of family business and office dynamics.

Her enthusiasm for tailoring bespoke solutions is matched only by her vibrant personality and her innate ability to foster genuine relationships. Her commitment to sustainability and equality is not just a professional pursuit but a personal crusade, as she endeavors to make a tangible impact in these critical areas through her dedicated efforts.

Virginie Boillat-Carrard is a distinguished orchestrator of the IMD Global Family Business Center’s multifaceted activities, masterfully managing an array of projects and initiatives. Her expertise shines in the seamless execution of the Center’s events, strategic communication, and the prestigious IMD Global Family Business Award.

With a rich history spanning two decades at IMD, Boillat-Carrard has been instrumental across various departments, lending her skills to Program Operations, the MBA International Consulting Project, Sustainability, and the CEO Learning Center, showcasing her versatility and commitment to excellence. Her career trajectory is marked by a significant tenure at Swissair, where she excelled in sales, press and public relations, and marketing, honing a keen acumen for the multifaceted aspects of corporate communication.

Boillat-Carrard’s profound interest in the intricate dynamics of family structures and their impact on business, interpersonal relationships, and health underscores her holistic approach to her work, reflecting a deep understanding of the interplay between personal and professional realms. Her contributions are not just a testament to her skill but also to her insightful approach to the nuanced interrelations within family businesses.

The Wild Group Chair in Family Businesses has been instrumental in funding research and educational activities at the Center since 2001.

The purpose of this Chair is the exploration of the management needs of family-held businesses and strategic partnerships in this field. Another of its aims is the furthering of entrepreneurial culture throughout business-owning families and enterprising families.

The Chair was donated by Hans-Peter Wild, former owner of Wild Flavors (which he sold to ADM in 2014) and current owner and chairman of the Wild Group and the Capri-Sun Group (which includes the world-famous Capri Sun fruit juice brand.)

IMD is extremely grateful to Dr Wild for his continued support of family business research and education. His generosity and commitment help to ensure that IMD remains a world pioneer in this fascinating field.

Over the past 20 years prestigious family business faculty were appointed to the Wild Group Chair on Family Businesses and all have delivered premium programs and published cutting-edge research and insights in family business, contributing significantly to both the reach and reputation the Center continues to enjoy today.

As of 2001, Professor John Ward held the Wild Group Chair on Family Businesses. His teaching and research interests are in family enterprise continuity, governance, philanthropy, and sustainable strategy. Professor Ward has authored several books including the best-selling Keeping the Family Business Healthy, Creating Effective Boards for Private Enterprises, Strategic Planning for the Family Business, and Perpetuating the Family Business, as well as the Family Business Leadership series, several cases, and numerous articles.

In 2013, Denise Kenyon-Rouvinez was appointed Wild Group Professor of Family Business. Her research as Wild Group Chair include a specific focus on strategic alliances among privately-owned companies as well as between public and private firms. In particular, it investigates how to preserve key drivers of family business performance – values and corporate culture – during merger times and beyond. Kenyon-Rouvinez has authored several books, including, Governance in Family Enterprises, Maximizing Economic and Emotional Success, A Woman’s Place, The Crucial Roles of Women in Family Business, Sharing Wisdom, Building Values, Letters from Family Business Owners to Their Successors, Family Business, Key Issues, Why Me? Wealth: Creating, Receiving and Passing It On, and Who, Me? Family Business Succession. A Practical Guide for the Next Generation.

In 2020, IMD appoints family business expert Alfredo De Massis to spearhead research within the Wild Group Chair at IMD. Alfredo’s research focuses on the management, governance and behavioral aspects of family enterprises and how to ensure their prosperity across generations. He has advanced understanding of how family business leaders balance economic and non-economic goals in strategic decision-making, and manage the paradox of tradition and innovation.

The Debiopharm Chair for Family Philanthropy aims to increase the social and financial impact of family giving as well as to develop best practices in family philanthropy. Another of its aims is to leverage philanthropy as a catalyst for the transmission of family values across generations, branches and nationalities.

The Chair was donated in 2016 by Thierry Mauvernay, President and Delegate of the Board of Debiopharm Group.

The Peter Lorange Chair in Family Business is focusing primarily on how to develop strategies for family-owned businesses. The Chair was given by S. Ugelstad Invest, in recognition of its owner and Chairman, Dr. h.c. (mult.) Peter Lorange.