Biography
Stephane Garelli is a world authority on the competitiveness of nations and enterprises. He has pioneered research and theory in this field. Professor Emeritus at IMD (Institute of Management Development) Lausanne, where he continues to teach, he has founded the World Competitiveness Center. He is also Professor Emeritus of World Competitiveness and Strategy at the University of Lausanne.
Stephane Garelli was managing director of the World Economic Forum and the Davos Annual Meetings, the world's most important annual gathering of business and government leaders.
A "practicing" academic — as well as his involvement in the academic world, he has always managed to remain very close to market realities and the world of business.
He was also Chairman of the Board of the FF Sandoz Financial and Banking Holding and a member of the Board of Directors of the Banque Edouard Constant. For 15 years, he served as Chairman of Le Temps, the leading French-language newspaper in Switzerland, and is a shareholder.
Stephane Garelli was a member of the International Olympic Commission on Sustainability and Legacy chaired by Prince Albert of Monaco. He is also a member of several international institutions and boards, and continues to advise governments.
He was also elected a member of the Constitutional Assembly of his local state of Vaud, Switzerland, from 1999 to 2002.
He has published two best-selling books: "Top Class Competitors - How Nations, Firms, and Individuals Succeed in the New World of Competitiveness" with Wiley and "Are You a Tiger, a Cat or a Dinosaur?", available on Amazon.
His latest book: "World Competitiveness – Rewriting the Rules of Global Prosperity", published with Wiley (October 2025).
Past Business Connections
Managing Director — World Economic Forum
Led the Davos Annual Meetings for over a decade, helping to shape the world's most important annual gathering of business and government leaders.
FF Sandoz Financial & Banking Holding
Chairman of the Board of the Sandoz Financial and Banking Holding.
Banque Edouard Constant
Member of the Board of Directors.
Chairman — "Le Temps"
Chairman of the Board and shareholder of Switzerland's leading French-language newspaper for 15 years.
Senior Adviser — Hewlett-Packard Europe
A 14-year association with one of the world's leading information technology companies, advising European management on strategy and competitiveness.
Société Générale de Surveillance (SGS)
Advisor to the Managing Director of the world's largest inspection company.
Nestlé — Competitiveness Audit
Designed the methodology for, and conducted a major "Competitiveness Audit" for the Management Board of the world's largest food company, focusing on key supplier and customer relationships.
Swiss Bank Corporation
Designed and implemented a new strategic management process at the head office in Geneva.
Short CV
Academic Career
Professor Emeritus of World Competitiveness at IMD and the University of Lausanne. Founder of the World Competitiveness Center. Publisher of the annual World Competitiveness Yearbooks. Pioneer of world competitiveness theory. Author of numerous articles and several books.
Business Leadership
Managing Director of World Economic Forum & Davos. Chairman of Sandoz Financial Holding. Chairman & shareholder of "Le Temps." Senior adviser to Hewlett-Packard Europe. Board of Banque Edouard Constant.
Global Engagement
International Olympic Committee, Commission on Sustainability and Legacy, Thailand Management Association, among others. Constitutional Assembly of Vaud.