Alex Edmans to receive honorary doctorate

London Business School Professor of Finance Alex Edmans will receive an honorary doctorate from the Open Universiteit in the Netherlands, it has been announced.

Alex Edmans is a leading authority on sustainable finance and responsible business. His book Grow the Pie: How Great Companies Deliver Both Purpose and Profit was named to the Financial Times Books of the Year and he has spoken at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

He receives the honorary doctorate “for his outstanding achievements as a connector between science and society.”

Open Universiteit’s rector magnificus Theo Bastiaens said the university was proud to honour Professor Edmans.

“The social relevance of Edmans' research and the energy he displays in sharing his findings with a wide audience are a true source of inspiration. His ideas on sustainable finance emphasise the importance for companies to take good care of our society and planet,” he said.

“Additionally he offers practical guidelines for solving sustainability and responsibility issues in business. That can only deserve appreciation.”

Professor Edmans will be presented with his honorary doctorate at Open Universiteit’s dies natalis celebration, marking the academic institution’s anniversary, on 21 September 2023.

He said: “I am truly grateful to receive this honour. Responsible business is not simply a topic of academic research for me; it's something I am intrinsically passionate about - in particular applying the insights of rigorous scholarship to address real-world problems. I look forward to sharing my ideas at the dies natalis, and for this to spark a long-term relationship with Open Universiteit.”