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RememberingIn Memory of Distinguished Laobo Professor Max Boisot

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By Lv Yuan (CEMP 1984)

t was at noon on September 8, 2011 When and the EU began to that I received the news that Laobo cooperate in running a had passed away from cancer. Only together in 1984, both parties were very two weeks earlier had I learned that prudent. They relied only on placing a Ihe was ill, and given that he was strong small ad in newspapers like Beijing Daily and not yet 70 years old, I had assumed it News to attract potential MBA students. was a minor ailment. Things happened so A colleague of mine saw the ad and fast, before I could send my greetings he suggested that I take the admissions exam had become smoke and ashes. as soon as possible. “If you succeed, you could get a job in the State Economic Laobo is the nickname that we gave to Commission, and even work abroad,” Max Boisot, whose Chinese name is he said. I was working at the Beijing Bosimai ( 博思迈 ). He was very proud Association of Science and Technology of his Chinese name, which reflects his at that time, where I was responsible for wisdom and extensive studies. Laobo training adults. I was bored with the job, arrived in Beijing in 1983 to represent the and was distressed when my supervisor European Union (EU) in negotiations rejected my application for a transfer. with the State Economic Commission When I told the supervisor that I wanted of China for a jointly-hosted MBA to take the MBA admissions examination, programme. Once an agreement was he grudgingly consented, warning me reached, Laobo was appointed Director that I would only get one chance. If I of the China-EEC failed, I should never mention it again. Programme. In 1988, the programme was renamed China Management I was allowed two weeks of leave in order Institute (CEMI) and in 1993, CEMI to prepare for the exam. I remember was moved south to Shanghai, where in those days it was difficult to find Shanghai Jiaotong University became any reference material on business its Chinese partner and the name was administration, but I managed to changed to what we know today as China find three books. Luckily I passed the Europe International Business School examination and later I found out that I (CEIBS). I was among the first batch of had the seventh highest score among our students in the MBA programme, and class. then later I went on to the UK to study for my PhD. Laobo was a research partner I remember going for my admissions of my PhD supervisor John Child, who interview, and when I entered the room, was a great mentor of mine. Laobo was one of the interviewers, seated

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in the centre. I was deeply impressed once we got to know him we realised to the Chinese leaders at the school by his large physique and his magnetic Laobo could be very humorous. Our that we felt overburdened with work. British accent. Later, someone told me classes were all conducted in English Finally, Laobo came to our class, and that he had studied at Eton College, one and even our textbooks were in English, listened as the 30 or so of us laid out our of the top schools in Britain. and contained many concepts we had complaints. In the end, Laobo replied, “I never yet heard of in China. Many totally understand what you’ve said, but I performed well during the interview students wanted the courses to focus I’d like ask you, what is an MBA?” and was admitted to CEIBS, which began on the conditions in China. However a new chapter in my life. CEIBS used Laobo firmly refused to change the We were all dumbfounded. “You must the trimester system, and each semester curriculum. He said that what we viewed survive in any environment; that is what three professors recruited from the most as useless was the theoretical basis of an MBA means,” he said. Even to this celebrated business schools in Europe economic development and business day, I remember Laobo’s definition of came to Beijing to teach us. While most administration that had been repeatedly an MBA, and convey it to my students. of the professors would return to Europe proven in practice. Looking back now, we are deeply proud at the end of a semester, Laobo remained of being the first group of China’s in Beijing, living in a hotel. Laobo also assigned us a great deal of MBA students to have studied modern work. Each section of our programme management. At first, many of the students in our class required that we do in-depth case were not that warm towards him. This studies and research reports on various Just before we were to graduate in 1986, was in part because of his aristocratic enterprises. Our examinations and we had to submit a general group report British accent, and his manner, which reports were all done in English, which on our enterprise research. I was chief came across to us as arrogant, though added to the workload. We complained editor for our group’s report; it was over

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100 pages. I later learned that Laobo saw Laobo several times when he came would find time to see me. Once, he was had spent nine hours editing our report to work with my supervisor Professor transiting through Hong Kong and had before he gave it to others to use as Child. In 1988, they co-authored an no time to leave the airport, so I met reference. I was both deeply touched and article that appeared in one of the him there for an hour-long discussion I also felt very guilty when I heard this. world’s top journals, Administrative over a meal. Science Quarterly. The article has CEIBS changed my life, and Laobo since become a classic research study When I was visiting Wharton in August changed my way of thinking. Before of China’s economic system. They 2000 a professor invited me to dinner at I went abroad for my PhD studies at collaborated on many other research his home. Coincidentally I found that in the UK, Laobo studies, and Laobo gradually established Laobo was there too. We were all very managed to find time to talk with his reputation in academic circles. His surprised. Everyone was always happy to me. I felt badly because I used to many published studies have had a see Laobo. Wherever he went, he was in misunderstand him, and sometimes profound influence. the spotlight. People enjoyed listening to I had fought against his suggestions. him, because when he spoke he was very But, he did not mind at all. Instead, he After I graduated from Aston, I went inspiring and enlightening. He was full of patiently told me how to handle the to Cambridge University with my endless ideas and energy. No one could formalities and differences between a supervisor, and saw Laobo several times. imagine that such an energetic, creative PhD and an MBA degree. He believed Every time I saw him he was always and wise man would pass away so fast. that I could finish my PhD study with writing while he talked with me. When I guidance from Professor Child. began working at the Chinese University His life was short, but brilliant and of Hong Kong in 1996 we kept in touch impressive. I miss you, Laobo, you are During my time in Aston University, I and whenever he was in Hong Kong he forever my teacher.

theLINK Volume 1, 2015 CEIBS MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE Professor ZHU Xiaoming, President Professor XU Dingbo, Associate Dean Professor Pedro NUENO, President Dr Snow Zhou, Assistant President Professor Hellmut SCHÜTTE, Vice President and Dean Professor ZHANG Weijiong, Vice President and Co-Dean

CURRENT FACULTY MEMBERS

Prof. Schütte, Hellmut (Chairman) CAI, John, PhD PRODI, Romano, PhD ZHANG, Yimin, PhD CEIBS, PRC Strategy Finance CALLARMAN, Thomas E., PhD Sino-European Dialogue Chair ZHAO, Xiande, PhD Prof. Canals, Jordi RAMASAMY, Bala, PhD Operations and IESE Business School, Spain CARDONA, Pablo, PhD Economics ZHAO, Xinge, PhD Management RIBERA, Jaume, PhD Finance and Prof. Cremer, Rolf D. CHEN, Jieping, PhD Production and Operations ZHOU, Dongsheng, PhD Accounting Management Marketing Global Bridges China Forum, Germany Port of Barcelona Chair in Logistics Zhongkun Group Chair of Accounting ZHU, Tian, PhD CHEN, Shaohui, PhD RUI, Oliver, PhD Economics Prof. De Bettignies, Henri-Claude Finance and Accounting INSEAD, Management Practice ZHU, Xiaoming, PhD CHEN, Shimin, PhD Sampler, Jeffrey, PhD Management Management Zhongtian Chair in Management Prof. De Meyer, Arnoud Accounting SCHÜTTE, Hellmut, PhD Management University, Singapore CHEN, Weiru, PhD Strategy Distinguished Professor of Management Prof. Klag, Michael J. CHIANG, Jeongwen, PhD European Chair for Global The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA Marketing Governance and Sino-European RESEARCH Centres Business Relations CHNG, Daniel Han Ming, PhD Case Development Center Prof. Likierman, Andrew Management SU, Xijia, PhD Director: Prof. LIANG, Neng Accounting , U.K. Cronqvist, Henrik, PhD Centre of Chinese Private Enterprises Finance TSAI, Terence, PhD Director: Prof. ZHANG, Weijiong Zhongkun Group Chair of Finance Management Prof. Nueno, Pedro CEIBS Centre for Healthcare CEIBS, PRC DING, Yuan, PhD TSAMENYI, Mathew, PhD Management and Policy Accounting Accounting Director: Prof. CAI, John Cathay Capital Chair in Accounting Prof. Paladino, Marcelo TSE, Kalun, PhD The Euro-China Center for FANG, Yue, PhD Finance and Responsibility IAE Business School, Argentina Decision Sciences Director: Prof. PRICE, Lydia Tsikriktsis, Nikos, PhD FERNANDEZ, Juan Antonio, PhD Operations Management Leadership Behavioural Laboratory Prof. Palepu, Krishna Management Director: Prof. LEE, Jean , USA VELAMURI, S. Ramakrishna, Gong, Yan, PhD PhD China Outsourcing Institute Entrepreneurship Entrepreneurship Director: Prof. ZHU, Xiaoming Prof. Qian, Yingyi Gutsatz, Michel School of Economics and Management, PRC WANG, Gao, PhD CEIBS Lujiazui Institute of International Marketing Marketing Finance Director: Prof. WU, Xiaoling HAN, Jian, PhD Prof. Ramanantsoa, Bernard WANG, Jing Management Marketing Center for Automotive Research HEC , France Director: Prof. CALLARMAN, Thomas E./ HUANG, Ming, PhD WOOD, Jack Denfeld, PhD Prof. ZHAO, Xiande Finance Management Practice Prof. Turpin, Dominique La Caixa Chair in Finance CEIBS Centre for China IMD, Switzerland WU, Jinglian Director: Prof. YIP, George/Prof. HAN, Jian Hwang, Yuhchang, PhD Economics Accounting Baosteel Chair in Economics Centre for Entrepreneurship and Prof. Zhang, Weijiong Investment KIM, Tae Yeol, PhD Xiang, Yi, PhD CEIBS, PRC Director: Prof. LI, Kevin/ and Human Marketing Prof. RAMAKRISHNA Velamuri Resource Management XIN, Katherine R., PhD CEIBS-Pudong Service Economy LEE, Jean S K, PhD Management Research Centre Management Bayer Chair in leadership Director: Prof. ZHU, Xiaoming/ Michelin Chair in Leadership and HR XU, Bin, PhD Prof. NUENO, Pedro Li, Shanyou (Kevin) Economics and Finance Centre for Globalization of Chinese Entrepreneurship XU, Dingbo, PhD Companies LIANG, Neng, PhD Accounting Director: Prof. DING, Yuan/Prof. WANG, Gao Management Essilor Chair of Accounting CEIBS E&Y Research Centre for MEYER, Klaus E., PhD XU, Xiaonian, PhD Emerging Market Studies Director: Prof. MEYER, Klaus Strategy and International Business Economics and Finance MILLER, Paddy, PhD Santander Central Hispano S.A CEIBS Centre for Family Heritage Management Chair in Economics and Finance Director: Prof. LEE, Jean/ Prof. RUI, Oliver MOON, Henry, PhD YANG, Lei (Bob) The Shanghai Institute of Digitalization Organisational Behaviour Finance and Internet Finance Director: Prof. ZHU, Xiaoming Moran, Peter, PhD YANG, Yu, PhD Strategy Management CEIBS Centre for Arts & Cultural Studies NUENO, Pedro, DBA YEUNG, Arthur, PhD Director: Prof. ZHU, Xiaoming Entrepreneurship Management Chengwei Ventures Chair in Philips Chair Professor of CEIBS-World Bank China Centre for Entrepreneurship Human Resource Management Inclusive Finance Director: Prof. RUI, Oliver Park, Hyun Young, PhD YIP, George S., PhD Marketing Strategy Center for Innovation in Supply Chain and Services (CISCS) Park, Sam (Seung Ho), PhD YU, Fang (Frank), PhD Director: Prof. ZHAO, Xiande/ Strategy Finance Prof. CALLARMAN, Thomas E. Parkland Chair Professor of Strategy ZHANG, Hua, PhD PRICE, Lydia J., PhD Finance Marketing ZHANG, Weijiong, PhD Strategy 212x275mm ad ok.pdf 1 15-3-5 下午1:24

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