Koldo Echebarria began the academic year by assuming the post of Director General of ESADE Business & Law School, taking over from Eugenia Bieto, who stepped down after eight years at the helm of the institution. Dr. Echebarria’s formidable professional background includes a focus on combatting inequality in a wide range of countries, including the United States, Chile and Haiti. He brings to ESADE extensive management experience in international settings. 

Dr. Echebarria commented: “ESADE's function is not to consolidate the statu quo. Our mission should be to challenge and improve the current socioeconomic model.” One of his priorities over the coming years will be to consolidate a combination of professional excellence, entrepreneurial spirit and social commitment. “More than ever before, we need institutions that look at the world with a critical spirit and are capable of generating social impact and transforming the world in a positive way. We are an important community of students, faculty, alumni and companies that are committed to addressing current global challenges such as sustainability, inequality and poverty.” 

One of the main priorities established by the new Director General of ESADE is to promote excellence in the school’s programmes, internationalisation and innovation. According to Echebarría, “ESADE must be synonymous with innovation. Any company that wants to begin an innovation process will find in ESADE the best possible partner.” 

Koldo Echebarria holds a PhD in Law and a Diploma in European Studies from the University of Deusto. He has spent much of his career at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). He served as General Manager and Head of Development Effectiveness from 2007 to 2013 and as Country Representative in Chile from 2005 to 2007 and again from 2013 to 2016. In his most recent appointment, he served as head of the IDB-financed reconstruction programmes in Haiti. 

In his academic career, Dr. Echebarria has developed alliances with leading schools of public administration throughout the world, including the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, the Wagner School of Public Service at New York University, the University of Chile, the London School of Economics, Erasmus University Rotterdam and Copenhagen Business School.