It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of Professor Emeritus Jean-Philippe Deschamps, a distinguished member of the IMD community and a pioneering figure in the field of technology and innovation management.
Professor Deschamps’ association with IMD began in 1986, during which time he served as Professor of Technology and Innovation Management. His expertise encompassed the management and governance of innovation, focusing on the profile and role of innovation leaders – those senior executives who stimulate, steer, and sustain innovation within organizations. His tenure at IMD was marked by his instrumental role in developing educational programs that bridged academic rigor with practical application in the rapidly evolving technology landscape.
He designed IMD’s Managing the Innovation Process program and was a key faculty member on Mastering Technology Enterprise, offered by IMD together with Polytechnic Universities of Zurich (ETH) and Lausanne (EPFL). He was also part of the faculty of the Driving Strategic Innovation program, offered jointly by IMD and MIT, and of IMD’s High Performance Board program. His contributions to these areas have left an indelible mark on the academic and business communities.
Prior to joining IMD, he was a corporate vice president with consulting firm Arthur D. Little, where he served as European practice leader for strategy consulting and founded the firm’s technology and innovation management practice. This combination of academic excellence and practical business experience enabled him to bring real-world insights into the classroom and research arena.
Since his retirement from IMD, Professor Deschamps remained remarkably active in sharing his research insights through participation in international conferences, particularly in Southeast Asia, where he took time during these visits to meet with local IMD alumni clubs.
He is remembered by his colleagues as “a true gentleman scholar” and “a wonderful human being.” Professor Emeritus of Strategy and Leadership Bala Chakravarthy shared, “Jean-Philippe was an excellent researcher and a great teacher. Above all, he was a wonderful human being, always modest and polite. We will miss our gentle giant.” Professor Emeritus of Innovation Management Bill Fischer noted, “JPD was an essential and inspirational part of the early Drive Strategic Innovation team… as a colleague and professional, he was among the best!”
Professor Deschamps’ legacy of excellence in research, teaching, and mentorship will continue to inspire future generations of scholars and practitioners in the field of technology and innovation management. The IMD community extends its heartfelt condolences to Professor Deschamps’ family and friends during this difficult time.
