INSEAD today announced the appointment of Professor Atalay Atasu as Academic Director of the INSEAD Hoffmann Institute (the Institute), effective 1 March 2026.
Atasu is Professor of Technology and Operations Management and holds the Bianca and James Pitt Endowed Chair in Environmental Sustainability. He is also co-founder of the INSEAD Sustainable Business Initiative. An internationally recognised scholar, his work bridges rigorous academic research with real-world application, advancing policy-relevant insights at the intersection of business, technology and sustainability.
As Academic Director, Professor Atasu will work to reinforce the Institute's academic foundations while sustaining the impact for which it is well renowned. He will support and mobilise faculty through research programme funding designed to advance rigorous inquiry, generate innovative classroom content and foster a vibrant community of emerging scholars at INSEAD. Under his leadership, the Hoffmann Institute will continue to serve as a platform where cutting-edge research and meaningful business and societal impact go hand in hand.
“Professor Atasu combines academic excellence with a deep commitment to ensuring that sustainability research informs practice,” said Francisco Veloso, Dean of INSEAD, “His leadership will further strengthen the Hoffmann Institute’s role in shaping responsible business and developing leaders who can navigate complex global challenges.”
Commenting on the appointment, André Hoffmann MBA’90D, Vice-Chairman of Roche Holdings Ltd and Chairman of the Hoffmann Institute Advisory Board, said: “The goal of the Hoffmann Institute is to embed sustainability and long-term thinking at the heart of business education, research, and practice. Professor Atasu’s track record of rigorous, impact-driven scholarship reflects the kind of leadership needed for this role. I am confident that under his direction, the Institute will continue to drive research and ideas that help business become a force for long-term value creation for society on a way to a sustainable prosperity."
The INSEAD Hoffmann Institute was established in 2018 to integrate sustainability across all INSEAD activities and mobilise our stakeholders for maximum impact. It is named in recognition of André and Rosalie Hoffmann for their foundational gift.
