INSEAD - 60 Years of Excellence. It’s in our DNA

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1950s

A new vision

This institute… is destined to play a creative role in the economic affairs of Europe and the world.

US President Dwight D. Eisenhower

1955

The Chambre de Commerce de Paris embraces Doriot’s dream

1957

In July INSEAD established by the Chambre de Commerce de Paris

International and independent from the beginning

25 March: Treaty of Rome signed, establishing the European Economic Community common market

Jean Marcou, Chairman of the Chambre de Commerce de Paris, becomes Founder-Chairman of INSEAD

1958

Willem Posthumus Meyjes appointed first Director General of INSEAD, taking on the immense task of opening the school

Olivier Giscard d’Estaing appointed first Director of Studies, laying a foundation of academic excellence to build a world-class institution

Creation of Paris Office

1959

Less than one month after the first MBA class met, INSEAD is inaugurated on 9 October

1960s

Pioneering spirit

We want a school that is not only difficult to get into, but from which only good quality would emerge.

Roger Godino, Director of Faculty

1960

The first class of MBA graduates was diverse, comprised of 52 students from 14 countries – pioneers and trailblazers each and every one

From the start, the logo used the INSEAD name and depicted reach beyond any one country

1961

Graduates of the first MBA intake, led by Jean-Marie d’Arjuzon MBA’60 (centre), establish the INSEAD Alumni Association and adopt the Salamander insignia of François I as their symbol

1962

IBM, Procter & Gamble, and McKinsey join Saint-Gobain and Péchiney to establish first professorial chairs

Architect B. de la Tour d’Auvergne’s design for a structure in aluminium, glass and brick selected for new campus

Jean Martin meets with Mayor of Fontainebleau Paul Séramy (right), who was instrumental in the land trade that allowed campus construction to go ahead

1963

Classes move into the Collège des Carmes, a former priory in Avon

Olivier Giscard d’Estaing appointed Director General and pursues an ambitious global mission – lecturing, developing media contacts, raising funds and promoting the school

1964

With greater clarity of vision, the logo brings Europe into focus in a global context

Roger Godino appointed Dean of Faculty, in charge of improving faculty and participant standards through increased workload and testing

1965

The first stone of the Europe Campus is laid in a high-profile ceremony inaugurated by Minister of Industry Michel Maurice-Bokanowski (centre)

1966

Annual intake averages 140-150 participants - doubling in size from first intake

Participants attend one of the final classes in the Collège des Carmes in Avon

1967

Philippe Dennis appointed Director General, with a priority to recruit a top-class full-time faculty after completing the new campus

The logo depicts the Founders Trees on the new campus, representing global education, rich diversity and the spirit of entrepreneurship

The modern campus opens on the edge of the Forest of Fontainebleau

First female students join the MBA programme

1968

Faculty grows to 12 Permanent members

Launch of first executive education Advanced Management Programme

INSEAD library becomes the largest European repository for books on management

1969

John H. Loudon appointed Chairman of INSEAD, forging new links with international companies and keeping INSEAD close to business

At the inauguration event, Olivier Giscard d’Estaing welcomes Minister of Industry André Bettencourt (front centre-right) to the INSEAD campus

Executive Committee established, nine leaders join strategic decision-making body

1970s

Expanding our horizons

The school itself seemed to be full of possibilities, radiating an air of something new, something happening or about to happen.

Philippe Dennis, Director General

1970

Students relax on campus during a much-needed break between classes

Centre Européen d’Education Permanente (CEDEP) established

1971

INSEAD permanent faculty grows to 31, doubling in 18 months.

Dean Berry appointed first Dean of INSEAD, places focus on raising academic standards through faculty recruitment and research development

Completion of North Wing, enabling expansion of the school

Claude Janssen (right) appointed first Executive Vice-Chairman of the Board, marking the founder’s return to INSEAD governance

1972

Launch of world’s first company specific executive education programme

Launch of the Management Development Unit, with Claude Rameau appointed Director

1974

Pierre Cailliau appointed Director General, ushering in an era of capable leadership and structural change that would ultimately end the Director General position and strengthen INSEAD governance as an academic institution

Jacqueline Tourlier-Pope appointed first Director of Development, following years of dedicated service in charge of personnel and administration

First executive education programme to prepare European managers to work in Asia

1975

International Woman’s Year and European Council directives underscore the need to increase gender diversity in business

Students brave the Fontainebleau rain walking to class

1976

Research Committee established as part of academic investment

Board approves creation of the Euro-Asia Centre, with Henri-Claude de Bettignies (far left) named Director and Washington Sycip (standing) joining later as Chairman

Launch of the INSEAD Alumni Fund by Michel Gauthier MBA’61 (centre) to reinforce the distinctive character of the MBA programme

Uwe Kitzinger appointed Dean of INSEAD, promising to turn INSEAD into a whole management institute by improving research capabilities

1977

First 5 National Committees formed in West Germany, France, Britain, the Netherlands and the US

Launch of first development campaign, an early fundraising effort to support ambitious growth

1978

Noted economist Edith Penrose becomes first female professor to join the faculty and later becomes the first woman appointed to a deanship

1979

First endowed Professorial Chair established

Claude Rameau MBA’62 appointed Dean of INSEAD, pioneering a co-dean leadership model and providing strategic stability for the next 13 years

President of the European Commission Roy Jenkins (left) joins Uwe Kitzinger to open two new buildings on the Europe Campus – Residences and restaurant

1980s

From institute to institution

Companies will turn increasingly to managers unfazed by linguistic and cultural boundaries.

Fortune International

1980

Heinz Thanheiser MBA’64 (left) joins Claude Rameau as co-Dean, seeking to broaden the school’s expertise beyond Europe and strengthen the community

First scholarship recipients admitted to the MBA programme following a campaign by Uwe Kitzinger to bring more women to the school

Euro-Asia Centre opens, bridging business and cultural differences

1981

Introduction of Faculty Tenure

1982

Claude Janssen appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors

Prominence is given to the world in the logo, showing a focus on working out Europe’s position in the global economy

At the cutting edge of management education, the school innovated computer-aided learning tools

1983

Chairman of the Board Claude Janssen speaks to the MBA’83J class, when dual intake established July and December graduations

Micheline Dehelly (right) was a key figure in running the school, working closely with the founders in the early years and assisting every dean from Berry to Borges

1984

INSEAD hosts world leaders and journalists for European Summit press conference

1985

First second-generation graduate joins alumni community

Inauguration of Euro-Asia Centre building in Fontainebleau, a base of operations for programmes across Asia

1986

Intake applications grow to three times the 1980 intake

Philippe Naert (left) appointed Co-Dean alongside Claude Rameau, determined to launch an INSEAD-style PhD programme

1987

National advisory boards (formerly councils) grow to 13

Number of MBAs graduating in 1980s equals total for the 1960s and 1970s combined

Fundação Dom Cabral Partnership launches two programmes for Brazilian executives

1988

INSEAD intake expands from 320 to 420

INSEAD faculty publish 30 case studies, 25 more than previous year

INSEAD featured on the cover of the May 1988 Fortune International

Launch of PhD programme based on the US model but with an international twist

1989

The fall of the Berlin Wall shifted focus to globalisation at INSEAD and around the world

1990s

Going global

The Asia Campus has redefined INSEAD as a truly international business school.

Gabriel Hawawini, Dean of INSEAD 2000-2006

1990

‘Enrichment through diversity’ adopted as official slogan

Ludo Van der Heyden (right) appointed Co-Dean alongside Claude Rameau, building on successful leadership of the fledgling PhD programme

The Doriot Library and Information Centre opens in Fontainebleau

1991

Inspired by the leaves of the forest surrounding our Europe Campus, green is introduced to the logo

1993

Antonio Borges (right) appointed Co-Dean alongside Ludo Van der Heyden, bringing experience as former INSEAD professor and Deputy Governor of the Bank of Portugal

Wall Street Journal ranks INSEAD #1 Advanced Management Programme for executive education

The 14 INSEAD National Councils merge to form the International Council

1994

First doctoral candidates graduate with exceptional placement in teaching positions at prestigious schools

INSEAD becomes the largest provider of executive education in Southeast Asia

1995

Launch of first Capital Campaign

During the 1990s, INSEAD graduations were held in the Théâtre Municipal de Fontainebleau

Co-Dean leadership ends, Antonio Borges takes over as Dean

1996

As Dean of INSEAD with a bold vision, Antonio Borges proposes that INSEAD build a full-service, equal-status campus in Asia

A familiar face at the reception desk in the Camembert, Joyce Allport welcomed students and visitors to the INSEAD campus from 1970 until she retired

When the weather is nice, group work moves outside on the edge of the forest

1998

Board unanimously approves creation of Asia Campus in Singapore

1999

INSEAD leadership joins local leaders for Asia Campus Groundbreaking Ceremony

First MBA intake of 53 pioneers from 25 countries convenes in Singapore before campus construction is complete and later moves onto new campus to finish their studies

2000s

The Business School for the World

The school is getting closer to governments and... helping corporations and individuals in their global performance in developing a better world.

Claire Pike MBA’69, INSEAD Secretary General

2000

INSEAD ranked #1 International Business School by Bloomberg Businessweek

Asia Campus opens with former Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew, inaugurating the new facility

Gabriel Hawawini appointed Dean of INSEAD, pursuing a strategy of expanding the school’s international reach

2001

Launch of the broad-based and revolutionary INSEAD-Wharton Alliance

2003

The Executive MBA launches with a distinct international identity, delivered across two campuses to culturally diverse participants and with a leadership component

2004

'The Business School for the World' adopted as official motto

Launch of INSEAD second capital campaign

Cees van Lede MBA’67 appointed Chairman of the Board, bringing business leadership and a connection to the community as the first alumni chair

Inauguration of Plessis Mornay Learning Space for Executive Education increases capacity on the Europe Campus by 25 percent

2005

The logo features the new motto and the Book of Knowledge, symbolic of the school’s pursuit of academic excellence

Phase Two of the Asia Campus as envisioned by the architect

2006

Frank Brown appointed Dean of INSEAD, bringing expertise from more than 25 years as a business executive with PricewaterhouseCoopers

2007

Launch of Master In Finance

INSEAD’s Hellmut Schütte (left) and Li Liao, Associate Dean of Tsinghua University, launch the Tsinghua-INSEAD Executive MBA

INSEAD Abu Dhabi Centre opens for research and teaching in the Middle East

Erin Anderson becomes first woman to be appointed Dean of Executive Education

Blue Ocean Strategy Institute opens, leading a revolutionary rethink in international business

2008

Launch of Gender Diversity Initiative

Franz Humer MBA’71 appointed Chairman of the Board, continuing alumni governance and strategic oversight by an accomplished chief executive

2009

50th Anniversary celebration marks the coming of age of a school that grew from a singular vision and humble beginnings into a leading global academic institution

Students walk to class through the Asia Campus South Foyer, which shares design elements with the Camembert in a nod to the school’s European roots

2010s

Exploring new horizons

INSEAD is one of the first management schools to dip a toe into the online economy, instead of merely studying it.

Bloomberg Businessweek

2010

Launch of MBA Exchange with Kellogg School of Management

Abu Dhabi Centre becomes the Middle East Campus, with new facilities and academic offerings

INSEAD Advisory Council established to develop the school’s strategic thinking and perpetuate its founding principles and values

INSEAD ranked #1 International Business School by Business Insider

2011

Launch of Dual Degree with Johns Hopkins University SAIS

Dipak C. Jain appointed Dean of INSEAD, leading the school into a new fast-moving global economic climate

Launch of Executive Master in Change

2012

INSEAD ranked #1 one-year MBA by Poets & Quants

Olivier Giscard d’Estaing speaks at the launch of the Alliance Sorbonne Université, a partnership with six leading schools in France that promotes equal access to knowledge and shared programmes

Global Executive MBA now offered on all three INSEAD campuses

2013

Executive Master in Finance opens to all

Launch of MBA Exchange with China Europe International Business School (CEIBS)

Ilian Mihov appointed Dean of INSEAD, promising to nurture the vibrant intellectual environment, ensure innovation in teaching and enhance the school’s reputation

2014

Launch of Dual Degree with Teachers College, Columbia University

Peter Zemsky appointed first Dean of Strategic Initiatives and Innovation to oversee the school’s digital technology strategy and advance key initiatives

Launch of world’s first two customised online programmes for executives

2015

Financial Times ranks Tsinghua-INSEAD Executive MBA #1

Andreas Jacobs MBA’90D appointed Chairman of the Board, bringing entrepreneurial and global experience needed to ensure continued success

Dr Beh Swan Gin, Chairman of the Singapore Economic Development Board (centre) joins INSEAD leadership to open the Leadership Development Centre on the Asia Campus

2016

First full residential MBA Period on the Middle East Campus

MBA Graduation Ceremony returns to the Château de Fontainebleau

First open online executive education programme launches, educating leaders on strategic responses to new digital possibilities

Financial Times ranks INSEAD #1 in three categories - MBA, EMBA and single-school EMBA

2017

Launch of new MBA curriculum with focus on business and society and digital learning

Financial Times again ranks INSEAD #1 MBA programme in the world

2018

Launch of the Campaign for INSEAD: A Force For Good

Laurence Capron first woman appointed Dean of Faculty, bringing extensive thought leadership and academic excellence to the role

The logo introduces the roundel, representing the world and the school’s global reach, standing and ambitions

The Hoffmann Global Institute for Business and Society inaugurated to champion prosperity and positive social impact

LaunchPad at STATION F connects INSEAD to world’s largest business incubator for start-ups

2019

The Business School for the World celebrates 60 years of excellence!

2020s

Moving Forward

Our values are blueprint to build a better future for INSEAD, leading us new opportunities in the 21st century – and new opportunities to be a force for good.

Ilian Mihov, Dean of INSEAD

2020

The San Francisco Hub for Business Innovation bring the INSEAD global focus to North America