Seven new faculty members have joined ESADE Business & Law School for the 2018-2019 academic year, all with international experience and trained at some of the world’s top universities. Marc Torrens, Silvia Romboli, Ignasi Martí, Xavier Ferràs, Sira Abenoza, Jan Hohberger and Pedro Rey have joined the ESADE team, bringing the faculty to a total of 168 members representing 19 different nationalities.

Cristina Giménez Thomsen, Vice-Dean of Faculty at ESADE, commented on the school’s growing level of commitment and innovation: “We want faculty members who are capable of enriching the institution through their innovative approaches, diverse teaching styles and professional experiences.” Prof. Giménez also highlighted the need for socially committed academics who have experience with new technologies. “New technologies such as artificial intelligence are transforming the fundamental paradigms of the business world,” she commented. “This is why we train our students in these new skills and, in keeping with our commitment to social innovation, seek out teachers who are working to make the world a better place.”

The following are the new faculty members of ESADE Business & Law School: 

Marc Torrens, Lecturer in the Department of Operations, Innovation and Data Sciences. He holds a PhD in Science from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL). He has taught at Geneva Business School and IE Business School, among other institutions, and has more than 20 years of experience as an entrepreneur. His main areas of research are artificial intelligence, machine learning, usability, data visualisation and product design. 

Silvia Romboli, Assistant Professor at ESADE Law School. She holds a PhD in Law from the University of Pisa. Her main areas of research are related to constitutional justice and protection of fundamental rights (especially those of minorities and at-risk groups). She has served as a visiting researcher at Pantheon-Sorbonne University in Paris and as a coordinator for the Jean Monnet Seminar. 

Ignasi Martí, Professor in Department of Social Sciences. He holds a PhD in Business Administration from IESE Business School and has served as a visiting scholar at Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford. He researches new forms of exclusion and is an expert on innovation and social and institutional change. He was recently appointed as Director of the ESADE Institute for Social Innovation. 

Xavier Ferràs, Associate Professor in the Department of Operations, Innovation and Data Sciences. He holds a PhD in Economics and Business from the University of Barcelona, an MBA from ESADE and a Bachelor’s Degree in Telecommunications Engineering from the Technical University of Catalonia (UPC). He is an expert on science-based entrepreneurship, innovation policies, strategic innovation and technology management. He also serves as Executive Director of Business Custom Programmes at ESADE.

Sira Abenoza, Lecturer in the Department of Social Sciences. She holds a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Barcelona. She has more than 10 years of professional experience as a consultant specialised in corporate social responsibility. Her areas of interest, which revolve around the intersection of philosophy and management, include business ethics, the philosophy of management and Socratic dialogue applied to management. 

Jan Hohberger, Academic Assistant in the Department of Strategy and General Management. He holds a PhD in Management Sciences from ESADE–Ramon Llull University. He has been a visiting scholar at the Wharton School of Business and at Georgetown University. His research focuses on strategy and innovation topics, with a focus on knowledge acquisition, alliances and informal collaborations in high-tech industries.

Pedro Rey, Associate Professor in the Department of Economics, Finance and Accounting. He holds a PhD in Economics from University College London. Since 2008, he has held a visiting position at the Rady School of Management at the University of California San Diego (UCSD). He is an expert in experimental economics and behavioural economics. His research focuses on economic decision-making.