|
Dear Members of the Management Consulting Division,
This message was originally intended to celebrate the exciting program awaiting us in Philadelphia and the extraordinary energy that the volunteer members of our Division Board continue to devote to making your experience as enriching and welcoming as possible. I very much look forward to seeing many of you in Philadelphia for stimulating sessions, meaningful conversations, and warm social gatherings.
Today, however, we must also share a much sadder piece of news.
Professor Emeritus Henri Savall, Officer of the French Legion of Honour, passed away on Sunday, June 7.
|
 |
Professor Savall was a prominent member of the Management Consulting community and one of the driving forces behind the "Operation Lafayette" initiative in 1998, through which he encouraged and accompanied French scholars across the Atlantic to contribute to the creation and development of the Management Consulting Division.
As the founder of the Institute for Socio-Economic Research on Organizations and Enterprises (ISEOR), Professor Savall trained hundreds of scholar-practitioners and intervention-researchers around the world. He championed a deeply humanistic and practice-oriented vision of science. Together with Professor Véronique Zardet and through collaborations with more than 2,500 organizations since 1975, he co-constructed theories and approaches that transformed the lives and work of thousands of people—researchers, practitioners, and scholar-practitioners alike.
Professor Savall often reminded us that "we walk on two legs": one firmly grounded in academia and the other in practice. Only by embracing both, he believed, could we create meaningful impact and give true purpose to our work.
A steadfast supporter of the Management Consulting Division, he honored us with his presence at the 2025 Annual Meeting in Copenhagen, where he celebrated the 50th anniversary of ISEOR with our community.
Mentor, colleague, friend, and deeply admired professor, he is already profoundly missed.
To honor his remarkable legacy and enduring contribution to our Division, the Management Consulting Division will establish the Henri Savall Award.
With our deepest sympathy, we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, and all those whose lives he touched.
Farewell, Professor Savall.
Warm regards,
Dr. Carole Bousquet