The INSEAD family mourns the loss of Claude Janssen, founder and champion
Statement by Ilian Mihov, Dean of INSEAD
It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Claude Janssen, one of the founders of INSEAD and a long-serving leader at the school. Claude was instrumental in establishing INSEAD. He did not simply believe in the idea, he invested time, energy and passion to breathe life into the school. Over the course of six decades, Claude Janssen served the school and community admirably.
Today, we mourn the loss of a great leader and great man. Our hearts go out to his lovely wife, Tuulikki at this time.
Claude’s involvement with INSEAD began when the school was nothing more than an idea. He had taken the then-unusual path of attending Harvard Business School following his studies at the prestigious École Polytechnique in Paris. At HBS he met Georges Doriot, the first French HBS graduate and its first French professor.
Doriot envisioned a revolutionary business school in France defined by academic rigor and relevance, diversity, independence, entrepreneurial spirit and closeness to business. Based in the US, he needed support to bring this idea to life, and Claude was the ideal agent.
Claude worked tirelessly to get the school off the ground and turn the idea of INSEAD into reality. He defined effectiveness paired with discretion, the perfect diplomat to secure funding, facilities and faculty for the fledgling operation. When the first classes were held in 1959, Claude informed Doriot, “The ship is launched. 57 registered today. Opening ceremonies completed. All engines turning.”
From that moment forward, Claude was a cornerstone in building the INSEAD of today. Throughout the 1960s, he served on the Advisory Committee. In 1971, he was appointed first Executive Vice-Chairman of the Board. Then in 1982 he took over as Chairman of the Board, a position he held until 2004. Until his last day, Claude served as Honorary Chairman of the Board and Honorary Head of the International Council, continuing his lifelong mission to champion INSEAD.
Under Claude’s leadership, INSEAD grew into a global business school renowned for academic excellence and cultural diversity. It became a leading institution with campuses on three continents, a robust degree offering and reputation for cutting-edge research, as well as an active and engaged community of business leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators. This is Claude’s legacy and we are forever indebted to him for championing this vision and for his commitment to the school.
Please join me in celebrating the life of one of our founding fathers. Claude Janssen empowered and inspired generations of business leaders, and his legacy will live on as long as the INSEAD spirit does.
Visit our tribute page here.
