Javier Solana joins ESADE Business School

ESADE (Link) (December 15, 2009)

Javier Solana, who for the last ten years has been the European Union's High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, has chosen to join ESADE Business School as President of its new Centre for Global Economics and Geopolitics, in the new year.

Having left academia to pursue his political career, during which he has been Minister of Culture, Minister of Education and Science, and Minister of Foreign Affairs in Spain, Secretary General of NATO and held a number of high ranking positions in the EU, Javier Solana will take on a research and teaching role in ESADE.

The new ESADE Centre for Global Economics and Geopolitics, over which Javier Solana will preside, will focus on the evolution of global society, analysing the global economy, corporate leadership and good practice in public policy, among other areas. "In joining ESADE, I am becoming part of an institution of excellence and academic rigor" says Solana, "we hope to set up what will become an international reference for the generation of new ideas essential for the future of global society as a whole." Solana also commented that he aims to establish relationships with other international centres of excellence that will support this goal.

Designed to instigate reflection, academic analysis and public debate focused on the role of public institutions, multinationals and other international actors, the Centre will comprise a number of other ESADE experts in the areas of corporate internationalization, macroeconomics, public policy and leadership.

Javier Solana will also teach on some of ESADE's leading international programmes, sharing some of his experience and knowledge with ESADE's executive education participants, MBA students and the school's large alumni network.

Carlos Losada, Director General of ESADE said, "We are absolutely delighted that Javier has chosen to join ESADE, it will be an honour to work alongside such an international political heavyweight. We are excited about his leadership of our new research centre and sure that it will yield the pioneering new ideas needed by business and society."

Javier Solana Madariaga was born in Madrid in 1942, holds a doctorate in Physics and is a tenured professor of the Complutense University of Madrid. He is also a Knight of the Order of St Michael and St George. A member of the Spanish congress since 1977, he was the Spanish Minister of Culture (1982-88), Official Spokesman for the Government (1985-88), Minister of Education and Science (1988-92) and Minister of Foreign Affairs (1992-95). In December 1995 he was appointed Secretary General of NATO, a position he held until 1999, when he became the EU's High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy. His mandate was renewed for five years in 2004 and finally came to an end on the 1st December 2009.