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F E 2009, the A&A brand was suffering a significant drop in market share in the diaper sector in Spain and Portugal. This was due to the supply of private label products at lower prices. The case presents a dual proposal by A&A to launch a new, low-cost line of diapers to compete with rivals and regain its position as a leading product.
Porto
OCTOBER 26 José G. Chimeno (PDG ’95), president of the regional chapter of Portugal, invited the alumni to a dinner conference organized in the city of Porto. The event was attended by Daniel Bessa, former minister of economy, professor and consultant at various companies.
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Oslo
NOVEMBER 3
Amsterdam NOVEMBER 14
How do winners make decisions? This was the central theme l of the meeting organized by the regional chapter of the Netherlands, presided over by Philip Alberdingk Thijm (MBA ’89). The event featured presentations by Jacques van der Broek, CEO and chairman of the Executive Board of Randstad, and Prof. Stefan Stremersch. Following the recent publication of his book How Winners Make Choices (Boom, 2016), Prof. Stremersch cited numerous examples in his examination of how leading companies make decisions. “The difference between winning and losing is often around three key dilemmas: large volume vs. high price, short term vs. long term, and local vs. global,” explained the professor. Van der Broek presented the corporate point of view on the path taken by Randstad to become a winning company.
Zurich
Basel
Bence Andras (AMP ’07), president of the regional chapter of Switzerland, invited alumni to a luncheon conference.
In the session “Fighting the Brand Commodity Trap,” Prof. Mario Capizzani looked at the case study “Dodot: la introducción de una línea de productos básicos en la Península Ibérica” (“Dodot: Introducing a Line of Commodities in the Iberian Peninsula”), published when the brand was part of Arbora & Ausonia (now part of Procter & Gamble). In
OCTOBER 21
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Dubai
OCTOBER 24 The Alumni Association invited alumni in Dubai to a session led by Prof. Ahmad Rahnema.
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The regional chapter of the Nordic countries, presided over by Martin N. Knudsen (MBA ’05) and Erik Boyter (GEMBA ’05), organized the session “Apple Car” in the Norwegian capital. Prof. Marc Sachon reviewed some of the key points that companies should consider when trying to penetrate new industries.
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OCTOBER 25
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Bogotá
NOVEMBER 22 Diego Cardenas (MBA ’96), health expert consultant and CEO of Strategic Knowledge Services (SKS), led a session focused on the functioning and challenges of the health system in Colombia. He also discussed trends that will shape the future of this sector both nationally and internationally. The meeting was organized by the regional chapter of Colombia, presided over by Luis F. Londono (MBA ’03).
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Singapore
NOVEMBER 23 A group of IESE alumni met in Singapore, where the director of the Alumni Association, Javier Muñoz, shared the most important news of the Association.
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Alumni Magazine IESE