Knut Haanaes Keynote Speaker

Knut Haanaes is a globally recognized authority on strategy, innovation, and sustainable business practices. As the Lundin Chair Professor of Sustainability at IMD Business School, he focuses on helping organizations navigate the complexities of strategic renewal and sustainability in today’s dynamic environment.​

In 2021, Knut co-founded the Business Schools for Climate Leadership (BS4CL), an alliance of eight leading European business schools committed to addressing the climate crisis through collaborative research and education. This initiative reflects his dedication to equipping leaders with the tools to drive sustainable transformation.​

Knut’s influential book, “Your Strategy Needs a Strategy,” published by Harvard Business Review Press, offers a comprehensive framework for selecting and executing the right strategic approach in varying business contexts. This work has been translated into multiple languages, underscoring its global impact.

At IMD, he co-directs the “Leading Sustainable Business Transformation” and “Driving Sustainability from the Boardroom” programs, guiding executives in embedding sustainability into core business strategies. His innovative teaching methods include the development of the IMD COP simulation, which was highly commended at the Financial Times Business Education Awards in 2024.​

Beyond academia, Knut serves on the CEO’s Sustainability Advisory Board at Carlsberg and has been a member of the Global Agenda Council on New Economic Growth Models at the World Economic Forum. His thought leadership extends to publications in Harvard Business Review, MIT Sloan Management Review, and the Stanford Social Innovation Review.​