HEC in the press

The Financial Times examines Meta’s aggressive recruitment strategy for its “superintelligence” AI lab, offering massive bonuses to lure top scientists. But stacking a team with stars comes with risks: studies show it can reduce innovation and teamwork: a study led by HEC Paris Business School Denisa Mindruta found that top researchers produced more when surrounded by a diverse team, and that overlapping expertise among stars often hurt collaboration.

According to El País, Ursula von der Leyen’s second term as European Commission President as increasingly turbulent, marked by internal dissent, backlash over environmental rollbacks, and criticism of her handling of Trump and Gaza. Alberto Alemanno, law professor at HEC Paris Business School, argues that by relying on both mainstream and far-right support, she has undermined her own political agenda and will remain the focal point of criticism going forward.

Purpose doesn’t flow from the top. In an op-ed for Forbes, professor at HEC Paris Business School Rodolphe Durand shows that purpose only works when middle managers lead with trust and real conversations.

EU Observer reports that Ursula von der Leyen survived the censure vote in Parliament, but the outcome exposed fragile alliances and growing discontent across party lines. Although backed by far-right groups, her leadership is now under heightened scrutiny from mainstream parties as well. Alberto Alemanno, law professor at HEC Paris Business School, argues that surviving the vote doesn’t strengthen her politically, and highlights how her allies have helped dismantle the Green Deal and block ethical oversight structures.

Euronews reports that the European Parliament’s censure motion against Ursula von der Leyen has exposed deep concerns about her opaque leadership style and centralisation of power. While she is likely to survive the vote, Alberto Alemanno, professor at HEC Paris Bsuiness School, warns that “more people will ask if she is the right person for the job,” and says the motion is a lightning rod for wider demands for democratic accountability. He adds that von der Leyen will emerge politically weakened, with limited room to manoeuvre in a second term.

Politico reveals how France and Germany jointly engineered the dismantling of the EU’s ethical supply chain law, transforming an ambitious directive into a significantly weakened compromise. Macron and Merz’s similar leadership styles enabled a fast-track political deal, despite criticism from civil society. Alberto Alemanno, law professor at HEC Paris Business School, describes their alliance as a “honeymoon,” noting they “say things that are quite unpopular, but they just say it”.

Anne Beaufour, heiress to pharmaceutical firm Ipsen, has changed her residency from the UK to Switzerland amid a generational succession plan involving the transfer of shares to her children. The Beaufour siblings have structured their €4.5bn wealth through offshore holdings, with Anne’s move reflecting broader tax-motivated shifts among Europe’s ultra-rich. According to Philippe Pelé-Clamour interviewed by Bloomberg, adjunct professor at HEC Paris Business School, their strategy is clearly designed to protect both personal assets and the company, and signals a well-advanced transition plan.

As values-based leadership gains ground, HEC Paris Business School professor Augustin Landier and David Thesmar highlight in an op-ed in Forbes how ethical choices depend on people’s willingness to pay the real price.

HEC Paris has unveiled a €230 million “Campus of the Future” project, described by Dean Éloïc Peyrache in Poets & Quants as “a promise to future generations.” The redesign focuses on sustainability, inclusion, and interdisciplinary learning, with new hybrid-ready facilities, green infrastructure, and a central academic hub. Completion is expected by 2031.

In Fortune, legal and economic experts warn that the EU’s proposed rollback of corporate sustainability rules—under pressure from France, Germany and corporate lobbyists—would raise costs, reduce legal clarity, and undermine climate goals. François Gemenne, professor at HEC Paris Business School, calls the move “a mistake,” arguing that the EU should “beef up” its green agenda rather than mimic U.S. deregulation.