Prof. Dr.
Christoph Lechner
Professor of Strategic Management
Christoph is a chaired professor of strategic management at the University of St. Gallen, director of its Institute of Management & Strategy (IoMS-HSG) and academic director of its “Master in General Management” (MGM).
Christoph was a board member of Helvetia (insurance, Swiss Stock Exchange) from 2007-2022, vice president of Hügli (food, Swiss Stock Exchange) from 2000-2018 until it was sold to Bell/ Coop Group, and co-founded SwissVBS, a digital solution firm in 2002, until it was sold in 2018 to BTS Global Business Consulting, Sweden. He started his business career by working for 7 years for Deutsche Bank Group, including an apprenticeship program, corporate banking, and investment banking in Germany and Singapore. He is still active in the private equity industry with investments in later stage firms in the food and banking/ insurance industry.
Leading Competence Centers
Member of Competence Centers
Prof. Dr. Christoph Lechner
His current research interests are in the areas of digital platforms, ecosystems, and corporate strategy. His research has won several awards, such as the Sumantra Ghoshal research and practice award of the Academy of Management, the best conference paper award of the Strategic Management Society, or the best German book award of the VHB Society.
He was able to publish his work in leading academic journals such as Strategic Management Journal, Academy of Management Journal, Academy of Management Review, Long Range Planning, Journal of Management, Strategy Science, as well as in practitioner journals such as Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Manager, or Financial Times. He was guest professor at Wharton business school (USA), IAE Business School (Argentina), University of Connecticut (USA), and University of California (USA).
He holds a master’s in arts in economics from Wayne State University, a master’s in business administration from University of Augsburg, and a PhD from University of St. Gallen. During his career, he received academic job offers from Bocconi (Italy), EM Lyon (France), University of Mannheim (Germany), and ESMT (Germany).
Education
Year |
Degree |
Institution |
| 1999-2004 | Habilitation in Strategic Management | University of St.Gallen, Switzerland |
| 1995-1999 | Ph.D. in Strategic Management | University of St.Gallen, Switzerland |
| 1989-1995 | Business administration degree (MBA) | University of Augsburg, Germany |
| 1992-1993 | Master of Arts in Economics | Wayne State University, USA |
| 1987-1989 | “Qualified Banker” | Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Augsburg, Germany |
| 1977-1986 | Secondary Education | Grammar School, St. Stephan, Augsburg, Germany |
Academic Employment
Year |
Position |
University |
| 2004–today | Chaired Professor of Strategic Management & Director at the IoMS-HSG | University of St. Gallen, Switzerland |
| 2003–today | Professor of Strategic Management | Bocconi University, Italy; EM Lyon (France); ESMT (Germany) and University of Mannheim (Germany) |
| 2019 | Guest Professor | Paul Merage School of Business, University of California Irvine, USA |
| 2009 | Guest Professor | IAE Business School, Austral University, Argentina |
| 2003 | Guest Professor | The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, USA |
| 2002 | Guest Professor | School of Business, University of Connecticut, USA |
| 1998-2002 | Senior Lecturer of Strategic Management | University of St. Gallen, Switzerland |
| 1995-1998 | Research Assistant | Institute of Management & Strategy, University of St.Gallen, Switzerland |
Non-Academic Employment
Year |
Position |
| 2006-today | Member of the Board of Directors of Helvetia (insurance), listed at Swiss Stock Exchange |
| 2001-2019 | Vice Chairman of Hügli (food), listed at Swiss Stock Exchange – sold to Bell Food in 2019 |
| 2001-2019 | Founding partner of Swiss VBS (digital visualization), Toronto/ Canada (sold in 2019 to Swedish BTS Group) |
| 1987-1995 | Various Positions at Deutsche Bank Group: Vocational Program, Corporate Banking, Assistant of Managing Director (Germany); Corporate Finance (Singapore) |
| 1986-1987 | Military Service (Mandatory), Music Corps 10, French Horn Player, Germany |
Professional Positions (University)
Year |
Position |
University |
| 2020–today | Member of the Supervisory Board | Institute of Business Informatics, University of St.Gallen |
| 2016–today | Academic Director of the “Master of Business Management” program | University of St.Gallen, Switzerland |
| 2007–today | Member of the Supervisory Board | Institute for Insurance Economics (I.VW), University of St.Gallen, Switzerland |
| 2004–today | Member of the Assembly of the School of Management and Senate | University of St.Gallen, Switzerland |
Awards
Year |
Award |
Awarding organization |
| 2021 | Finalist for the Best Conference Paper Award (together with Maximilian Dexheimer): How to stand out from the Crowd: Detecting Patterns in App Endorsements on the App-Store | Strategic Management Society |
| 2020 | Finalist for the “Managerial Practice Award” with the title: “Resolving the paradox of interdependency and strategic renewal in activity systems”, together with Daniel Albert & Markus Kreutzer | Academy of Management Review |
| 2010 | Best Lecturer Award, MBA Program | University of St. Gallen, Switzerland |
| 2008 | Best Lecturer Award, MBA Program | University of St. Gallen, Switzerland |
| 2006 | Winner of the Sumantra Ghoshal Research and Practice Award of the Business Policy and Strategy Division | Academy of Management |
| 2006 | Distinguished Paper Award of the Business Policy and Strategy Division | Academy of Management |
| 2005 | Winner of the SMS Best Conference Paper Award, International Conference | Strategic Management Society |
| 2004 | Finalist for the SMS Best Conference Paper Award, International Conference | Strategic Management Society |
| 2001 | ‘Best German Business Book’ for the book: “Strategisches Management: Wie Strategische Initiativen zum Wandel führen” | CapGemini Ernst&Young Award |
| 1999 | Winner of the Dr. Peter-Werhahn-Price for Outstanding Achievements in Business Administration and Philosophy of Science | University of St.Gallen, Switzerland |
| 1992-1993 | German Academic Exchange Service scholarship, Master in Economics | DAAD, USA |
Teaching on Bachelor, Master and PhD level
Year |
Course |
Degree |
| 2022 | Alliances, Digital Platforms & Ecosystems (Master in General Management) | Master |
| 2017–today | Strategic Management | Bachelor |
| 2006–today | Theoretical Perspectives in Strategy & Management | PhD |
| 1999-2010 | Managing Professional Service Firms | Master |
| 1999-2009 | Strategy Process Research | PhD |
| 2005-2009 | Alliance and Network Strategy | Master |
| 2001-2002 | Topics in Strategy | Master |
| 2001-2002 | Perspectives on Organizations | Master |
| 2001-2002 | Corporate Strategy | Master |
| 1999-2001 | Cases and Excercises in Business Administration | Bachelor |
| 1999-2001 | Organizational Capabilities & Resource-based-view of Strategy | Bachelor |
Teaching on the Executive Education Level
Year |
Course |
Degree |
| 1997–today | Lecturer of selected topics in strategic management | Public program |
| 1997-2019 | Strategic Management | Executive MBA |
| 2005-2010 | Managing Professional Service Firms | MBA |
| 1998-2007 | Co-Organizer and Speaker of the Forum on Managing Professional Service Firms | University of St.Gallen |
| 2003-2006 | Strategic Management | Global EMBA |
| 2001-2005 | Strategic Management | EMBA |
Research Grants
Year |
Sponsor and topic |
Amount of funding |
| 2019-today | Industry Consortium on Platforms and Ecosystems with Credit Suisse, Klöckner, Novartis, and Zürich Insurance | CHF 320’000 |
| 2020 | Research Fund (GFF) of University of St. Gallen for research on “Corporate Turaround Actions” | CHF 100’000 |
| 2010-2013 | Swiss National Fund (SNF), “Managing Corporate Programs” | CHF 320’863 |
| 2009-2011 | Regula & Fredy Lienhard Foundation, “Responsible Corporate Competitiveness & Responsible Leadership” | CHF 300’000 |
| 2010 | Research Fund (GFF) of the University of St. Gallen, “Activity Systems and their Renewal” | CHF 95’000 |
| 2006-2008 | Industry Consortium with 5 major European corporations, “Strategy Process Modes for Growth Initiatives” | CHF 160’000 |
| 2008 | Basic Research Fund (GFF) of the University of St. Gallen, 2008, “Exploring Corporate Programs” | CHF 40’000 |
| 2005-2006 | Industry Consortium with 4 major European corporations, “Shaping Strategy Processes” | CHF 80’000 |
Invited Research Talks
Bocconi University (Italy), Cass Business School (UK), European Business School EBS (Germany), EM Lyon (France), FU Berlin (Germany), Helsinki University of Technology (Finland), IAE Business School (Universidad Austral, Argentina), IMD (Switzerland), Irvine University (USA), Kelly School of Business (Indiana University, USA), LMU München (Germany), University Zürich (Switzerland), Wharton School (University of Pennsylvania, USA)
This area is currently being revised. In the meantime, please find all information about the publications under this link.
External Activities
Year |
Activity |
| 2010 | Member of the Conference Committee: “Intersections of Strategy Processes and Strategy Practices”, Strategic Management Society, Lapland (Finland) |
| 2008-today | Member of the Editorial Board, Strategic Management Journal |
| 2008-today | Member of the Editorial Board, Journal of Management Studies |
| 2008-2013 | Affiliate of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation’s Industries Studies Program |
| 2008-2010 | Elected Officer, Program Chair & Chairman of the Strategy Process Interest Group, Strategic Management Society |
| 2007-today | Member of the Editorial Board, Long Range Planning |
| 2006-today | Member of the Association of German Professors of Management (VHB) |
| 2005-2009 | Member of the Jury: Annual Best Conference Paper Award, Strategic Management Society |
| 2001-today | Member of the Academy of Management |
| 2001 | Member of the Conference Committee: “Strategy Process Research”, Strategic Management Society, St. Gallen (Switzerland) |
| 2000-today | Reviewer for the Swiss National Foundation (SNF) |
| 2000-2013 | Ad-hoc Reviewer for Journals such as Academy of Management Journal, Journal of Management, Journal of Business Research, Journal of International Business Studies, & Reviewer for conferences such as AoM, SMS, EGOS, or VHB |
| 1998-today | Member of the Strategic Management Society |
Interviews, Articles & Media Coverage
Bayerischer Rundfunk, Bayerisches Fernsehen, Bilanz, Bloomberg, Cash TV, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ), Financial Times Deutschland (FT), Harvard Business Manager, Handelsblatt, Handelszeitung, Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ), Radio Top (Ostschweiz), Spiegel Online, St. Galler Tagblatt, Süddeutsche Zeitung, Stern (Neon), Schweizer Radio DRS & 10vor10, Wall Street Journal, etc.
Srategy Advisory (since 2005)
Such as Corporate Strategy (chemicals), Growth Strategy Asia (Private banking), Growth Initiative (food), Asset Management: global integration of 37 firms (insurance), New Business Model (retail), Reorganization (industrial machinery), Strategy-Audit of Top Management Team (banking), Entry into European Cloud computing market (high-tech), Post-Merger Integration (industry), Restructuring (food), Ecosystem Strategy (premium white goods)
Alexander Göritz
M.Sc.
PhD Candidate, Research Associate, Executive Director Competence Center Alliances, Platforms & Ecosystems
Dora Maric
M.Sc.
PhD Candidate, Research Associate, Program Manager MGM-HSG
+41 71 224 23 36
