Jean-Philippe Vergne

JP Vergne examines the evolution of capitalist societies since the early 17th century. In particular, he explores how socially contested organizations affect the renewal of industries at the vanguard of the economy.

His award-winning research on piracy, on the global arms industry around 9/11, and on the rise of blockchain-powered organizations has been published in leading academic journals as well as in two books. His findings have been featured in such media outlets as the Financial Times, The Globe & Mail, The Economist, Bloomberg, CBC Radio and TV, Forbes, as well as in various cryptocurrency news sources.

JP has given keynote presentations at international technology conferences (e.g. Google Zeitgeist, South by Southwest, TEDx) and at high-profile corporate events.

In 2016-2020, JP was director of the fintech-focused Scotiabank Digital Banking Lab at Ivey Business School, in Canada, where he launched and chaired the first three editions of the Toronto Fintech Conference.

In 2013, he published the book The Pirate Organization: Lessons from the Fringes of Capitalism with organization theorist Rodolphe Durand. In 2017, he co-authored a graphic novel entitled Déjà Vu with artist Sarah Legault.

In his spare time, JP enjoys indie music, contemporary art, films with an edge, and wines with a soul. JP also advises start-ups and consults on strategic issues involving adaptation and technology innovation.