I have been a Professor of International Business at
Ivey Business School, Western University, in London, Ontario since November
2017.
Previously, I have been at the
China Europe International Business School
(CEIBS) in Shanghai for six years as a Professor of Strategy and
International Business. Before that I was a
professor at the
University of Bath and the
University of Reading in
England,
and I spend eight years with the
Copenhagen Business School, Denmark. I also held
visiting positions at
Hong Kong
University of Science and Technology (2001/02) and t
National Cheng-chi
University in Taipei (spring 2005).
I graduated with a PhD from London
Business School, UK in 1997 with a dissertation on
"Determinants of Direct Foreign Investment in the Transition
Economies in Central and Eastern Europe", which received the
best thesis award by the European Association for
Comparative Economic Studies. I also have a
Diplom-Volkswirt
(MSc Econ) degree from
University of
Göttingen, Germany having spend one year of
this education at the
University of California at Santa Barbara, USA.
I also spend two years in banking with the
Nord/LB in
Braunschweig,
Germany.
My research focuses on the strategies of
multinational enterprises in emerging economies. I am in
particular interested in how firms adapt their business
strategies to the specific conditions prevailing in each
emerging economy. I have thus investigated foreign
investor's choice of entry mode and foreign acquisitions in
transition economies. My research also extends to the impact
of foreign investors on the economic transition and
development of the host economies, for instance in the
context of privatization related acquisitions. Recently, I
have also taken an interest in multinational enterprises
originating from emerging economies, such as China, with a
focus on how the context of the home country affects their
pattern of their outward investment.
Of awards received for my research,
I most appreciate the 'Decade Award' received from the
Journal of International Business Studies for our 2005 paper
"Probing
theoretically into Central and Eastern Europe: Transactions,
resources and institutions".
Moreover, the Fellows of the Academy of International
Business elected me as a Fellow a few years ago.
With
Mike Peng,
I have written a textbook "International
Business" (3rd edition in 2019), which provides a comprehensive
introduction to the field of international business and is primarily aimed at students
in courses taught in English across Europe. Hence, the book
specifically incorporates issues and contexts relevant to
European businesses.
Related to research, I hold some responsibilities in
scholarly associations and journals. Currently, I am an area
Editor of the Journal of
International Business Studies. Other recent roles
include position of
Vice
President of the Academy of International Business
(AIB) with responsibility for the 2014 program in Vancouver.
I was also Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Management and
Organization Review, and senior editor of the
Asia Pacific Journal of Management (2007-2014), book review
editor for the Journal of
International Business Studies (2000-05), track chair
for the AIB
conference in Beijing (2006),
Rio de Janeiro (2010) and
Nagoya (2011).
My current and recent teaching focuses on core courses in
International Business and Strategic Management,
as well as specialist courses such as Global Strategy and Business in Emerging Markets/China to MSc,
MBA and EMBA programs.
You will find more information on my activities elsewhere
on this website; enjoy your visit.
