Prof Pursey Heugens succeeds Prof Marno Verbeek as Scientific Director of ERIM

As of 15 July, Professor Pursey Heugens will succeed Professor Marno Verbeek as Scientific Director of the Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM), the joint research institute of Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM) and Erasmus School of Economics (ESE). Pursey Heugens is Professor of Organisation Theory, Development, and Change at RSM; he will also replace Marno Verbeek as RSM’s Dean of Research at RSM. After six years as academic leader of ERIM, Marno Verbeek will concentrate on his role as finance professor at RSM after a short sabbatical at ESMT in Berlin.

Steef van de Velde, Dean of RSM says: “We welcome Pursey and wish him success in furthering ERIM. Our research institute is a solid example of a successful partnership between management and economics research and the alliance has proved to be world class. For example, in the US News & World Report ranking we are 15th, the first institution in a non-English speaking country for business and economics.

“I also want to congratulate Marno for these results and thank him for his dedication. Our research communication platform RSM Discovery and the Part-time PhD programme would not exist without his efforts.”

Under the leadership of Marno Verbeek, ERIM obtained a positive result from the Standard Evaluation Protocol (SEP) for its research between 2010 and 2015 ‒ a clear indication that ERIM is one of the top research institutes in Europe. Prof. Verbeek also moved the subject of scientific integrity further up ERIM’s research agenda so that it is now an integrated part of the Research Master in Business and Management and PhD curricula. He simultaneously organised discussion sessions for scientific staff.

During his time as Scientific Director, Prof. Verbeek oversaw the updating of the ERIM Journals List (EJL) in 2015, in line with developments in the field, thus supporting ERIM’s strategy for top quality publishing. More recently, the ERIM membership charter was been revised in 2012 and again in 2017. The latest revision resulted in the instigation of a new Fellow structure, aiming to ensure commitment to responsibilities in the further development of ERIM.

Prof. Verbeek said: “I am very satisfied with the achievements of ERIM over the past six years and want to emphasise that this has only been possible with the help of a highly dedicated and committed team in the ERIM office.”

Prof. Philip Hans Franses, Dean of ESE, adds: “Combined research into management and economics has shown itself to be relevant and impactful. Marno has shown great leadership and for that we thank him. We look forward to continuing the co-operation and wish Pursey all the best in taking ERIM to the next level.”

Prof. Huibert Pols, Rector of Erasmus University Rotterdam recognises ERIM to be one of the university’s crown jewels, with excellent research. “Over the past six years, Professor Verbeek’s contribution to our research policies and as advocate for research support has been impressive. I consider ERIM to be a fine example of how a research institute should function in a modern university, as well as a great example of multidisciplinary research.”