Remembering Dr Mike Staunton, LBS alumnus and colleague

We are deeply saddened to share the news that our esteemed alumnus, colleague and friend, Dr Mike Staunton MSc19 (1985) and PhD1985, Director of the London Share Price Database has passed away. Mike was closely connected with London Business School for over 40 years and was highly regarded across the LBS community. He joined the MBA programme in 1983, graduating in 1985 before completing a PhD in Finance at LBS.

Since the late 1990s, Dr Staunton managed the London Share Price Database, an important research resource for the School. Alongside Emeritus Professors of Finance Elroy Dimson and Paul Marsh, he also edited and produced the LBS Risk Measurement Service, which the School has published since 1979.

Mike had a highly distinguished teaching career. He supported teaching at LBS across a number of years, helping with projects and electives, and taught at universities in the UK, Hong Kong SAR and Switzerland. He was a respected author and researcher, co-authoring Advanced Modelling in Finance Using Excel and VBA with Mary Jackson. Dr Staunton also had a series of articles published in leading academic journals, such as the Journal of Banking & Finance, Financial Analysts Journal, Journal of the Operations Research Society and Quantitative Finance.

Together with Elroy and Paul, Mike co-authored the influential investment book Triumph of the Optimists and the highly respected Global Investment Returns Yearbook, that draws over 125 years of historical data and published annually since 2000. Together, they also developed and distributed the Yearbook’s underlying DMS Dataset, a vital resource for researchers and practitioners worldwide.

Mike’s relationship with LBS extended far beyond his academic and professional work. As an alumnus, donor and active member of our community, he remained deeply connected to the School throughout his life. His generous support for the MSc19(1985) Scholarship reflected his commitment to future students, while his role as Reunion Class Chair in 2025 demonstrated the care and energy he continued to give to his class and the wider alumni community. He was also a member of the Sussex Place Club, recognising his longstanding and generous support of the School.

Paul Marsh, Emeritus Professor of Finance, said: “Mike was an exceptional colleague, collaborator and friend. Over many years, we worked closely together on research that helped deepen understanding of long-term investment returns and became widely valued by researchers and practitioners around the world. Mike brought enormous knowledge and intellectual rigour to everything he did, and his contribution to our work and to London Business School was immeasurable. He will be greatly missed.”

Elroy Dimson, Emeritus Professor of Finance, said: “Mike was a trusted friend and colleague whose warmth and quiet dedication made working with him a privilege. Our collaboration spanned many years and I will remember not only his remarkable expertise and commitment to our shared work, but also the friendship and humanity he brought to it. His loss will be felt deeply by all of us who knew him.”

Mike will be greatly missed by the many classmates, friends and colleagues across the School’s faculty, staff and alumni community. Our sincere thoughts are with his family, friends, colleagues and all those affected by this sad news.

Colleagues who wish to pay tribute to Dr Mike Staunton or share a personal message are invited to contribute to an online memorial book, which will be shared with his family. Messages can be added via this link - Here