Marion Debruyne

Marion is passionate about the strategic side of innovation and the innovative side of strategy. She helps companies think about how to respond to changing markets and escape commoditization by adapting their product line, marketing strategy and ultimately, their business model. Prof Dr Marion Debruyne is Dean of Vlerick Business School. She holds a Civil Engineering degree and is Doctor in Applied Economics (Ghent University). She is also Master in Marketing (Vlerick Business School).

After obtaining a CIM fellowship she held positions as Visiting Doctoral Fellow at the Wharton School (University of Pennsylvania), Visiting Scholar at the Kellogg Graduate School of Management (Northwestern University) and Assistant Professor at the Goizueta Business School (Emory University).

Before her deanship professor Debruyne was Director for all Masters programmes as well as Academic Director of the Executive programme “Product Management”.

Her interests lie at the intersection between marketing strategy, innovation and competition. Her work has been published in Marketing Science and The Journal of Product Innovation Management among others.

“Nothing is as practical as a good theory”. Professor Debruyne loves bridging the academic world and the world of business practice. Her research focuses on the traps companies face when dealing with competitive attacks and fundamental industry shifts. She believes in market-driven organisations that innovate together with their customers to create real customer solutions and which build partner-ecosystems to bring these to the market.

She has ample experience with multiple industries ranging from pharma & healthcare (Abbott, Agfa, J&J, Merck, etc.) to energy (Electrabel, Niko, Siemens, etc.) to industry (Aliaxis, Bostik, DSM, ETEX, FrieslandCampina, Taminco, Umicore, etc.) to financial services (BNP Paribas, Dexia, ING, KBC, Optima, etc.) to consumers and others (JBC, Macintosh, Mondelez, Securitas, etc.).

Work experience

• Ackermans & van Haaren Independent Board member
• GUBERNA (Het Instituut voor Bestuurders/L'Institut des Administrateurs) Board Member
• Vlerick Business School
  • Dean
  • Associate Professor & Partner
• Kinepolis Independent member of the Board of Directors
• Recticel Independent Board Member
• Emory university Assistant Professor
• Kellogg Graduate School, Northwestern University Visiting Scholar
• ICM ICM Doctoral Fellow
• The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania Visiting Doctoral Fellow
• vlerick school researcher

Education

• Ghent University Doctoraat Toegepaste Economische Wetenschappen
• Vlerick Business School SLM Marketing
• Universiteit Gent Burgerlijk ingenieur scheikunde