Harvard Business Publishing (HBP), a subsidiary of Harvard Business School (HBS), announced the pending retirement of Chief Executive Officer David Wan (MBA ‘81) in June of 2021. Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer Josh Macht (AMP 186) will assume the role of acting CEO while the firm conducts a search.
Wan joined HBP in 2002 and is credited with transforming the organization into a global leader in the practice of management, growing revenues from approximately $90M to $270M. In a statement to the HBS community, Senior Associate Dean Das Narayandas said, “He successfully led the publishing company’s higher education, corporate learning, and Harvard Business Review groups through truly seismic market shifts to offer our global clients award-winning content, services, and solutions for real strategic impact. Most of all, his partnership with the School has ensured the extension of our mission to leaders around the globe and throughout the arc of their careers.”
HBS Dean Srikant Datar noted, “HBP is one of the unique pillars of the School and David has ensured that our collective vision and strategy will continue to move forward with strength and resilience. We are deeply grateful to him.”
Wan has agreed to join the HBP Board of Directors following his retirement to provide ongoing guidance.
Macht is uniquely qualified for the role of acting CEO. He joined the company in 2006 as managing director, new publishing ventures; became executive vice president and HBR group publisher in 2013; was named HBP’s first chief product innovation officer and chair of the Product Management Council in 2017; and, from 2018-2020, took on additional responsibility for leading HBP’s higher education group. He currently serves as senior executive vice president and chief product innovation officer. He has experience, knowledge, and relationships throughout HBP, with the board, and with partners at HBS.
Said Narayandas, “As an organization devoted to managerial excellence, it’s only fitting that HBP model highly effective leadership even during this time of change. I hope you’ll join me in once again thanking David for his many (and ongoing) contributions, and in thanking Josh for stepping in to serve at this pivotal time.”
About Harvard Business Publishing
Harvard Business Publishing (HBP) was founded in 1994 as a not-for-profit, wholly-owned subsidiary of Harvard University, reporting to Harvard Business School. Its mission is to improve the practice of management in a changing world. Through its articles, books, case studies, videos, learning programs, and digital tools, HBP helps lead, inform, and inspire professionals, corporations, educators, and students around the world with the best in management thinking and practice.
Courtesy: India Education Diary