Reflections on 60 years of London Business School
London Business School leaders reflect on 60 years of global growth, innovation, and the challenges shaping its future
In 30 seconds
Reflections from past and present leaders on London Business School’s 60-year evolution from local institution to global business powerhouse
Milestones include programme innovations, international expansion, major fundraising, and strategic responses to global events like Brexit and the pandemic
Looking ahead, the School focuses on tech, sustainability, ethical leadership and preparing for future business challenges in its Second Sixty
From a temporary home in London to a global institution, London Business School’s leaders past and present look back on six decades of growth.
Discover fresh perspectives and research insights from LBS
As London Business School (LBS) marks the close of its 60th anniversary year, Deans and Principals from past and present have taken the opportunity to reflect on the institution’s remarkable journey and their own experiences through its evolution.
LBS was founded in 1964 as the London Graduate School of Business, opening its doors to just 36 students under the leadership of Principal Dr Arthur Earle (1965–1972). The School quickly established itself as a pioneer in business education, launching innovative programmes and building a reputation for academic excellence.
Over the decades, the School expanded its global reach and programmes, including the introduction of the Master in Finance in 1993, a campus in Dubai in 2007, and the acquisition of the iconic Marylebone Town Hall—now the Sammy Ofer Centre—in 2017.
The School’s leadership has been instrumental in shaping its direction.
Lady Lindsay Ball, widow of Sir James (Jim) Ball, Principal from 1972 to 1984, recalled Jim’s approach to building the School’s reputation among business and political leaders. “Every Wednesday, we would host a dinner for the captains of industry to introduce them to the School - from Margaret Thatcher to Denis Healy and Lord Wilson.
“London Business School was everything to Jim and I’m proud to remain a part of the community today.”
Sir George Bain served as Principal from 1989 to 1997. Throughout these years, the UK faced recession, globalisation, and debates over labour reforms like the National Minimum Wage. Following his tenure, George went on to Chair the Low Pay Commission and introduce the National Minimum Wage. But ahead of that, he had another challenge at hand—setting a bold new strategy that helped establish LBS as one of the world’s best business schools.
“The task was to convert London Business School from being the best British School to one of the principal top 10 business schools in the world. The Financial Times did its first survey shortly after I left, and we came eighth - the only European school to be in the top 10.”
This set the stage for the School’s enduring global reputation.
In 2002, Laura Tyson took the reins as Dean, arriving from US where she had served in the Clinton Administration. Her tenure coincided with major shifts in UK and global business, including the rise of globalisation, debates over gender diversity in business, and the early impacts of digital transformation.
It was in her first year as Dean that plans for an international campus began to circulate.
“Business schools were thinking about how to internationalise, and while we had international students, I felt it might be important to find a way to offer London business school education - at least part-time - in another location,” Laura recalled.
“One of my earliest trips was to the Middle East and I started to ask, would we be able to attract more students from essentially India and Southeast Asia if we actually had a campus that was closer?
“I was no longer Dean when the Dubai campus was opened but I was delighted to see that it actually took off, and now there's a whole new alumni base there. It’s something I'm very proud of.”
The Dubai campus launched in 2007, just a couple of years before Sir Andrew Likierman became Dean in 2009.
In his reflections, he highlighted the transformative impact of the School’s ambitious fundraising campaign. It raised over £125 million to fund capital investment, attract world-class faculty, double its scholarship offering, invest in the latest technology and secure unrestricted funds in support of the School’s strategic priorities.
“Acquiring the new building at Marylebone Town Hall, now known as the Sammy Ofer Centre, not only increased capacity but also enhanced the learning environment for future generations,” said Andrew.
“This was only made possible thanks to the generosity of the Sammy Ofer Foundation and many other donors,” he continued.
Towards the end of his Deanship, Andrew was managing the potential impact of Brexit, ensuring that the School maintained its global appeal by keeping up the quality of the learning experience and increasing the number of scholarships.
In 2017 the baton was passed to François Ortalo-Magné, who steered the School through the realities of Brexit. He also continued to strengthen scholarship offerings and soon introduced the Laidlaw Women’s Leadership Fund, which aims to attract exceptional women from a diverse range of backgrounds, in particular women who may not otherwise be able to afford a top-tier business education
In 2020, the pandemic hit and François led the School through the unprecedented COVID-19 challenge, “I hope that I was, and forever will be the Dean who dealt with the most crises,” he recalled.
LBS continues to grow, inspired by the same vision and ambition that has driven its community over the years. Building on this legacy, the School moves into The Second Sixty under the leadership of Sergei Guriev, who became Dean in August 2024.
With a focus on innovation, technological investment and global connection, London Business School continues to lead the way in business education.
Tackling the business challenges of The Second Sixty
In today’s increasingly complex world, the challenges faced by business leaders have changed somewhat since 1964. From responding to the needs of a rapidly changing British economy, to navigating global economic and political instability in an era of extreme uncertainty.
As the School embarks on its next chapter, it remains focused on the challenges that will define the future of business and leadership. These include sustaining business growth while respecting the climate, harnessing tech transformations and AI, adapting to increased automation, navigating global instability cultivating ethical leadership and driving innovation.
“In its 60 years LBS has become one of the top business schools in the world. We will continue to be an agile, innovative and global institution, excelling in business education and research and offering opportunities for human connection and networking,” said Sergei.
See how the LBS community has been exploring the challenges of The Second Sixty in our Think Aheadevent and podcast series:
AI and the future of sustainability
The future of AI: regulation and business impact
What does AI mean for the future of digital marketing?
Who really wins in the AI revolution?
Lessons for leaders in today's increasingly polarised world
How to unlock the power of purposeful teams