“I am very happy to announce a solid provost team who will develop BI as a world-class business school. With this team behind me we combine international competence and diverse experience. I look forward to getting started,” says incoming President Karen Spens.
The provosts will together contribute to the strategic development of BI while ensuring effective collaboration, promoting innovation, and contributing to an organizational culture characterized by diversity, inclusion and supportive leadership. The provosts will have the following areas of responsibility:
- Professor Carl Fey is named Provost for Research and Societal Impact. He comes from the position as Professor of International Business at Aalto University School of Business.
- Professor Harald Øverby is named Provost for Student Learning. He comes from the position as Professor at the Department of Information Security and Communication Technology at NTNU.
- Professor Ingunn Myrtveit is named Provost for Academic Resources. She comes from the position as Head of the Department of Accounting and Operations Management at BI Norwegian Business School.
- Professor Bendik Meling Samuelsen is named Provost for Academic Programmes. He comes from the position as Provost for Academic Programmes at BI Norwegian Business School.
Spens is BI’s first female president. She is a Finnish citizen and comes from the position as Rector of Hanken School of Economics.
“Together with BI’s leadership team and the rest of the organization, the new provosts will be instrumental in ensuring BI’s position in the coming years. Our competitiveness nationally and globally depends on our ability to attract excellent researchers and lecturers, talented students and great partners. At the same time, we will maintain BI’s close collaboration with business and the public sector,” says Spens.
The board of BI Norwegian Business School approved the hiring of the new provosts Thursday May 19th. The provosts are hired for a fixed term in the period 2022 – 2026.
Carl Fey – Provost for Research and Societal Impact
Fey is Professor in International Business at Aalto University School of Business. He is former Dean, Director of Executive Education, and Chair Professor of International Business at Nottingham University Business School China, and Professor in International Business at Stockholm School of Economics. He obtained his PhD from Ivey School of Business, Western University in 1997.
As Provost for Research and Societal Impact, Fey will focus on developing and supporting BI’s research ambitions. BI aims to advance world-leading research and generate knowledge that is recognised in the international academic community as well as having an impact on practice in business and society. The provost is responsible for securing connectedness to business and society across all BI’s activities. He will have special attention to developing BI’s PhD programme and promoting and supporting externally funded research. The provost has executive responsibility for Dean PhD, research centres, research administration and library.
Harald Øverby – Provost for Student Learning
Øverby is Professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). His research areas are digital economics, business models, internet law, regulations and governance, and internet architectures. From 2013–2017 he was Head of the Department of Telematics at NTNU. He obtained his PhD in information and communication technology from NTNU in 2005.
The Provost for Student Learning will focus on developing BI’s future delivery and distribution models with varied and student-centred learning activities and flexible learning paths, as well as fully digital versions of full-time study programmes. The provost will also promote and support pedagogical transformation and the use of educational technology to improve student learning outcomes and create inspirational learning experiences. Øverby will have executive responsibility for BI’s Learning Centre, which includes learning analytics, learning design, digital production as well as pedagogical innovation and training.
Ingunn Myrtveit – Provost for Academic Resources
Myrtveit is Head of the Department of Accounting and Operations Management at BI Norwegian Business School. She obtained her PhD from the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH) in 1995 and has been professor at BI since 2007.
As Provost for Academic Resources, Myrtveit will focus on developing world-class faculty with impact on the international research agenda, student learning, and business practices and society. The provost has executive responsibility for BI’s nine academic departments and will work closely with the department heads to shape a faculty composition aligned with BI’s strategic ambitions.
Bendik Meling Samuelsen – Provost for Academic Programmes
Samuelsen is Provost for Academic Programmes at BI Norwegian Business School, a position he has held since 2018. He became Professor of Marketing at BI in 2013, and Head of the Department of Marketing in 2015. Samuelsen obtained his PhD from the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH) in 2004.
The Provost for Academic Programmes will focus on further developing and strengthening the academic programme portfolio at BI combining internationally recognised research with relevance to secure internationally attractive programmes at all levels. The provost has executive responsibility for programme deans, programme quality, accreditations, rankings, and international academic relations.