Jean-Pierre Lehmann

Jean-Pierre Lehmann is Professor of International Political Economy at IMD.

His areas of special interest include globalization, global governance, trade and development, the role of business in reduction of poverty and inequality and the socio-economic, cultural, and business dynamics of Asia. He acts in various leading capacities in a number of public policy institutes and organizations, as an adviser to governments and corporations, and as a frequent commentator in the international media. He is the author of several books and numerous articles and papers primarily dealing with globalization, modern East Asian history and East Asia and the international political economy.

In 1995, Professor Lehmann launched the Evian Group, an international coalition of corporate, government, and opinion leaders, united by a common vision of enhancing global prosperity for the benefit of all by fostering an open, inclusive and equitable global market economy in a rules-based multilateral framework. The Evian Group has developed as a leading global voice on global trade and investment issues that acts as a forum for dialogue and a birth place of ideas; it also engages actively in advocacy to counter the forces of protectionism and chauvinism.

Prior to joining IMD, Professor Lehmann’s academic and business careers encompassed activities in virtually all Asian and Western European countries, as well as North America. He was founding director of the European Institute of Japanese Studies (EIJS) at the Stockholm School of Economics (from 1992) and Professor of East Asian Political Economy and Business. He established and directed the East Asian operations of InterMatrix, a London-based business strategy research and consulting organization (1986-1992). During this time he was concurrently Affiliated Professor of International Business at the London Business School.

Previously, Jean-Pierre Lehmann was Associate Professor of International Business at INSEAD, Visiting Professor at the Bologna Center (Italy) of the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, twice Visiting Professor and Japan Foundation Fellow at the University of Tohoku (Japan), and founding director of the Center for Japanese Studies at the University of Stirling (Scotland), where he also taught East Asian history. He also directed the EC-ASEAN 'Transfer of Technology and Socio-Economic Development Programs' (1981-1986).