Appointment: João Albino-Pimentel

Prior to joining HSG, Prof. Dr. João Albino-Pimentel was a Moore Fellow and Associate Professor of International Business at the Darla Moore School of Business, University of South Carolina, in the United States. He is also a Visiting Professor of Strategy at FGV-EAESP in Brazil. Earlier in his career, he held positions as Assistant Professor of Strategy and International Business at Copenhagen Business School in Denmark, Visiting Scholar at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, and Research Scholar at the Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota. He completed his PhD in Strategy at HEC Paris with a dissertation examining the influence of political connections on firms’ international expansion strategies. He also earned degrees in Economics and Management from the University of São Paulo and a master’s in Business Economics from the University of Grenoble Alpes in France.

Research into international corporate strategy

Prof. Dr. João Albino-Pimentel's research focuses on two main areas. The first examines how political and institutional frameworks, as well as company-specific non-market capabilities, influence international corporate strategies, particularly location decisions. His work shows how firms draw on their own political and social capabilities to navigate political risk, institutional change, sectoral policies and weak protection of intellectual property. Several of his studies focus on supranational regulations, peace agreements, social policy, renewable energy and trade policy measures.

The second area of research analyses how multinational companies strategically manage geopolitical, social and environmental risks. Here he examines organisational complexity, the political embeddedness of decision-makers, corporate strategies in emerging economies, and value creation through environmental and social initiatives.

Prof. Dr. João Albino-Pimentel's research has been published in leading management journals such as the Journal of International Business Studies and Strategic Management Journal, and has been recognised with several awards, including the 2023 Emerging Scholar Award from the Academy of Management’s International Management Division.

Connecting research with the training of future leaders

Prof. Dr. João Albino-Pimentel emphasises the importance of education and the role of businesses in contributing to society. For him, teaching is a central component of his academic work, as it allows combining research with the training of future leaders. His teaching approach is based on active student participation, the use of a variety of teaching methods, and the integration of theory and practice. His teaching has also been widely recognised, including his selection by Poets&Quants as one of the 50 best undergraduate business professors in 2023.