HEC in the press

Tagesschau examines the controversy surrounding the European Parliament’s refusal to lift the parliamentary immunity of German MEP Angelika Niebler despite a request from the European Public Prosecutor’s Office. Alberto Alemanno, professor at HEC Paris, warns that the decision risks turning the Parliament into an institutional shield against independent judicial investigations, arguing that it exposes a fundamental weakness in the EU’s rule-of-law framework.

The Financial Times examines the political backlash against TotalEnergies in France as the war with Iran drives oil prices and profits higher. Jean-Michel Gauthier, professor at HEC Paris, argues that the criticism reflects a broader anti-capitalist sentiment, with Total symbolising, for many, the perceived excesses of large corporations despite the financial risks inherent in the oil industry.

The Financial Times examines the challenges facing EDF as it seeks to lead Europe’s nuclear revival while overcoming delays, cost overruns and organisational rigidity. François Gemenne, professor at HEC Paris, argues that rising geopolitical tensions and energy security concerns have made electrification and nuclear power more strategically important than ever, reinforcing EDF’s central role in France’s low-carbon transition and Europe’s energy resilience.

The Banker publishes an op-ed by Christophe Pérignon, professor at HEC Paris, and Christophe Hurlin, arguing that banks’ traditional stress tests underestimate the credit risks posed by AI. They contend that high-income borrowers, often considered the safest, may in fact be the most exposed to AI-driven income disruption, and call for new stress-testing frameworks that incorporate occupational AI exposure into credit risk assessments.

Poets & Quants highlights HEC Paris’ new global brand campaign, “Dare the Impossible,” which reflects the school’s ambition to position itself as a launchpad for entrepreneurs and changemakers rather than a traditional business school. Eloïc Peyrache, Dean of HEC Paris, explains that the campaign showcases role models including alumni Fidji Simo, Stanislas Niox-Château, Clarisse Crémer and A’Salfo, alongside professors Christophe Pérignon, Marieke Huysentruyt and François Gemenne, to inspire students to pursue ambitious and unconventional paths.

The Financial Times reports on the fall of the Romanian government after the Social Democrats joined forces with the far right to topple Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan over austerity measures. Alberto Alemanno, EU law professor professor at HEC Paris, warns that weakening the traditional "cordon sanitaire" around far-right parties could have broader repercussions across Europe by normalising such political alliances.

In an op-ed published in HR Review, professor at HEC Paris Business School Antonin Bergeaud argues that AI is more likely to transform jobs than eliminate them. He calls for reframing the debate away from job destruction toward task reallocation, emphasising the need for organisations and workers to adapt proactively rather than react with fear.

Executive Courses highlights the growing demand for short, modular formats in executive education, driven by time constraints and rapid technological change. Barbara Stöttinger, Associate Dean of Executive Education at HEC Paris Business School, underscores this shift toward flexible, stackable programmes that allow professionals to upskill continuously while working, prompting business schools to rethink their learning models.

The Financial Times interviews professor at HEC Paris Business School Olivier Darmouni on the rapid growth of securitisation in the US oil and gas sector, where companies bundle future production revenues to raise financing from investors. He warns that despite risk-mitigation mechanisms, the inherent volatility of the sector could expose these complex financial structures to instability, particularly if costs rise or market conditions deteriorate.