Chair of Family-Owned Business

Chair of Family-Owned Business

Chair: Álvaro San Martín

A forum of learning and connection for family firms

IESE’s Chair of Family-Owned Business was established in 1987 to promote and support family business and business family initiatives around the world.

The first of its kind in Europe, the Chair generates high-impact research and peer-reviewed publications, and actively participates in international conferences, research summits and educational initiatives, including regular sessions in IESE’s Alumni Learning Program.

Research areas.

  • Governance in family-owned firms
  • Interpersonal relationships and family dynamics
  • Succession processes
  • Ethics and corporate social responsibility
  • Sustainability and growth in the family firm
  • Innovation and intrapreneurship

Chair.

Álvaro San Martín is a professor in the Managing People in Organizations Department and the academic director of the Executive MBA in Madrid. With a PhD in Management from INSEAD, Prof. San Martín is an expert in organizational behavior, cultural psychology and team dynamics. His research has featured widely in leading scientific journals, including American Psychologist, Nature Human Behaviour, Psychological Science, and Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes.

In addition to his academic roles, Prof. San Martín serves as a member of the International Committee for the Society of Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP) and on the editorial board of the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (JPSP), a prestigious peer-reviewed publication of the American Psychological Association.

Academic Team.

Pascual Berrone

Pascual Berrone

Professor

Strategic Management
Alfonso Chiner

Alfonso Chiner

Lecturer

Strategic Management
Joan De Dou

Joan De Dou

Former Collaborator

Managing People in Organizations
Marta Elvira

Marta Elvira

Professor

Strategic Management and Managing People in Organizations
Carlos García Pont

Carlos García Pont

Professor

Marketing and Analysis of Business Problems
Heinrich Liechtenstein

Heinrich Liechtenstein

Professor

Financial Management
Jeroen Neckebrouck

Jeroen Neckebrouck

Associate Professor

Entrepreneurship
Edi Soler

Edi Soler

Associate Professor of the Practice of Management

Accounting and Control and Analysis of Business Problems
Josep Tàpies

Josep Tàpies

Professor Emeritus

Strategic Management

Events.

Blog.

Visit our blog for the latest on the world of family business. You’ll find regularly updated content and frontline insights from our faculty team, as well as links to follow the blog and sign up for our monthly newsletter.

Related Programs.

Value Creation Through Effective Boards
Artificial Intelligence for Executives
Gobernar y dirigir la empresa familiar

Resources.

FOB Annual Report 2025-26 | IESE Business School

2025-26 Chair of Family-Owned Business Annual Report

FOB Report 2024-25 | IESE Business School

2024-25 Chair of Family-Owned Business Annual Report

Informe

White paper: Las empresas familiares y sus stakeholders

2023-24 Chair of Family-Owned Business Annual Report

100 Families That Changed the World

Family-Owned Business: 30 Years of Answered Questions

Publications

Journal Articles (refereed)

MEULEMAN, M., WILSON, N., WRIGHT, M., NECKEBROUCK, J. (2022). When the going gets tough. Private equity firms' role as agents and the resolution of financial distress in buyouts. Journal of Small Business Management, 60 (3), 513-540. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/00472778.2020.1717242. RAMUS, T., VACCARO, A., BERRONE, P. (2021). Time matters! How hybrid organizations use time to respond to divergent stakeholder demands. Organization Studies, 42 (10), 1529-1555. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/0170840619900341. NECKEBROUCK, J., MEULEMAN, M., MANIGART, S. (2021). Governance Implications of Attracting External Equity Investors In Private Family Firms. Academy of Management Perspectives, 35 (1), 25-44. doi:https://doi.org/10.5465/amp.2017.0204.

Working Papers

BARBAT, J., CEJA, L., TÀPIES, J. (2013). Key Issues in Family Councils: Insights from the Spanish Experience (WP-1070-E). Barcelona: IESE. CEJA, L., TÀPIES, J. (2011). A model of psychological ownership in next-generation members of family-owned firms: A qualitative study (DI-929-E). TÀPIES, J., CEJA, L. (2011). Los protocolos familiares en países de habla hispana: Cómo son y para qué se utilizan (DI-931).

Proceedings

NEACSU, I., ELVIRA, M., RODRÍGUEZ-LLUESMA, C. (2018). Thriving at the top in the digital era. The impact of ICT on TMT agility. Annual Meeting Proceedings: Chicago 2018. Academy of Management Proceedings. NECKEBROUCK, J., SCHULZE, W. (2018). How do private firms respond to performance feedback?. The Role of governance and self-enhancement. Annual Meeting Proceedings: Chicago 2018. Academy of Management Proceedings. NECKEBROUCK, J., MANIGART, S., MEULEMAN, M. (2016). Working for divergent principals. Effects of private equity on employment practices in family firms. Academy of Management Proceedings.

Books

TÀPIES, J. (2018). Empresa Familiar: 30 años de preguntas con respuesta. Barcelona: IESE. TÀPIES, J., SAN ROMÁN, E., GIL, Á. (2016). 100 Families that Changed the World. Family Businesses and Industrialization. Barcelona: Fundación Jesús Serra. GALLO, M. Á., GÓMEZ, G. (2015). Evolución y desarrollo de la empresa y de la familia. Barañáin: EUNSA. Ediciones Universidad de Navarra.

Edited books

TÀPIES, J. (2011). Familia empresaria. Argentina: LID Editorial Empresarial. TÀPIES, J., WARD, J. L. (2008). Family Values and Value Creation. The Fostering of Enduring Values Within Family-Owned Businesses. Basingstoke [England]: Palgrave Macmillan. GALLO, M. Á. (2004). La sucesión en la empresa familiar. Barcelona: Estudios y Ediciones IESE.

Non-refereed articles

SAN MARTÍN, Á., VÁZQUEZ, P. (2026). Four rooms, four matrices: A framework for cooperation and change in family firms. IESE. ELVIRA, M. (2022). Profundizando en la relación entre empresas familiares y sus ‘stakeholders’. Harvard Deusto Business Review (326). PROAÑO VICENTE, Á., ELVIRA, M. (2021). El papel del consejo de administración en la transformación digital: una hoja de ruta. IESE.

Studies

ELVIRA, M. (2024). Estudio sobre retribución de los Consejer@s de Empresas Familiares no cotizadas. Transearch España, Madrid, España. ELVIRA, M., TORRES, B., REVILLA, M. D. M. (2024). Vínculos profundos: Un análisis riguroso sobre las relaciones entre las empresas familiares y sus stakeholders. IESE. ELVIRA, M., VISINTIN, S. (2019). Índice de Dinamismo Laboral Meta4 IDL, Mayo de 2019. 10ª edición. IESE.

Cases

ELVIRA, M., MITCHELL, J., LUDWIG, H. (2025). thyssenkrupp: Reinventing the German industrial giant (B). IESE, SM-1775-E. REICHE, S., VALOR SABATIER, J., SASTRE BOQUET, I. (2024). From two to one: The IT integration of CaixaBank and Bankia (A). IESE, OIT-31-E. ELVIRA, M., MITCHELL, J., LUDWIG, H. (2024). thyssenkrupp: Reinventing the German industrial giant (A). IESE, SM-1756-E.

Technical Notes

TÀPIES, J., CEJA, L. (2015). A Guide to Reflecting on Your Entrance Into the Family Enterprise. IESE, SMN-691-E. CEJA, L., TÀPIES, J. (2015). La función y las responsabilidades del Consejo de Administración en la empresa familiar. IESE, SMN-693. TÀPIES, J., CEJA, L. (2015). Guía para reflexionar sobre la entrada en la empresa familiar. IESE, SMN-691.

Outputs in other media

TÀPIES, J. (2019). Five Rules To Prevent Conflicts In Family Businesses. Forbes. TÀPIES, J. (2015). Cuatro protagonistas para un buen relevo. El Periódico de Catalunya, Barcelona. BERRONE, P. (2012). ¿Se puede compartir el liderazgo? Newsletter de Empresa Familiar.

Journal Articles (refereed)

SALVADOR, C., IDROVO CARLIER, S., ISHII, K., TORRES CASTILLO, C., NANAKDEWA, K., CANALE SEGOVIA, F., SAN MARTÍN, Á., SAVANI, K., ... KITAYAMA, S. (2026). Self-enhancement in Latin America: is it linked to interdependence? PERSONALITY AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY BULLETIN, 52 (6), 1432-1443. doi:10.1177/01461672241309387. ERIKSSON, K., STRIMLING, P., VARTANOVA, I., SIMPSON, B., PERSSON, M., ABDI, K. A., AD, N., ALDASHEV, A., ALI, H. M., ALÌ, M., ALIYEV, K., ALREFAEE, Y. M. H. A., ALVARADO ORTIZ, A. E., ANDERSSON, P. A., ANDRIGHETTO, G., ARIKAN, G., ARUTA, J. J. B. R., AYIKWA, C. L., BAÑOS-CHAPARRO, J., BARRERA, D., BARSYTE, J., BATKEYEV, B., BATOOL, A., BEREZINA, E., BIMINA, S. N., BJÖRNSTJERNA, M., BLUMEN, S., BOSKI, P., BOŠTJANČIČ, E., BOUM, Y., BRIGUGLIO, M., BRUNO, K., BUI, H. T. T., CAYCHO-RODRÍGUEZ, T., CHEN, Y., CHIWESHE, M. K., CHOI, H.-S., CONTRERAS-IBÁÑEZ, C. C., ČORKALO, D., CRUZ-TORRES, C. E., CZAKÓ, A., DE ZOYSA, P., DEMETROVICS, Z., DINIĆ, B. M., DRAČE, S., EL-HADDAD, R. W., ENGELMANN, J. B., ESCUDERO PÉREZ, I., EUH, H., FANG, X., FRANK, C., FREIDIN, E., FULOP, M., GAMSAKHURDIA, V., GARCÍA JIMÉNEZ, M. A., GARDARSDOTTIR, R. B., GAVRELIUC, A., GILL, C. M. H. D., GJONESKA, B., GLÖCKNER, A., GRAF, S., GRIGORYAN, A., GROWIEC, K., HAAS, B. W., HADDOCK, G., HADJISOLOMOU, S. P., HADŽIAHMETOVIĆ, N., HAJI MOHAMMAD ALI, M. H., HAKOKÖNGÄS, E., HALAMA, P., HAPUNDA, G., HARTANTO, A., HAZRATI, M., HERBAS-TORRICO, B. C., HOLKA, S., HŘEBÍČKOVÁ, M., HUNTER, J. A., IBIKOUNLE, M., ILISKO, D., LIND HJÖRDÍSAR JÓNSDÓTTIR, H., KAMINSKIENE, Z., KAPOOR, H., KAPOVIĆ, I., KARIM, G., KAWAKAMI, K., KHACHATRYAN, N., KIRSCHNER, J. B., KIRUJA, J., KIYONARI, T., KOHÚT, M., KOUSAR, S., KRASNIQI, B., LADO, L., LANDA-BLANCO, M., LANDON, B., LEP, Ž., LESLIE, L. M., LI, Y., LIIK, K., LIN, M.-J., LOBOS RIVERA, M. E., LÓPEZ-LÓPEZ, W., MALOKU, E., MANDAL, M., MANHIQUE, B. A., MBENDE, N. M., MEDHIOUB, I., TEIXEIRA, M. L. M., MERCHÁN TAMAYO, J. P., MOHAMMED, L. L., MOORE, S. N., MORALIGIL, B., MURADZADA, N., NANDA, H., NASTINA, E., NEJAT, P., NETTLE, D., NIPASSA, O. J. A., NOE-GRIJALVA, M., NTAMPAKA, P., NTONE, R., NUSSINSON, R., OLJAČA, M., ONYEDIRE, N. G., ONYISHI, I. E., PANAGIOTOPOULOU, P., ALVAREZ, D. P., PARVEZ, M. S., PASIN, G. L., PEDOVIĆ, I., PÉREZ DE LEÓN, P., PEREZ FLORIANO, L. R., POP-JORDANOVA, N., PORTILLO, J. R., POTANG, A., QUESADA-ROMÁN, A., RAVER, J. L., RODRIGUES, R. B., RODRÍGUEZ-ROMERO, J. D., ROMANÒ, S., ROSS, R. M., ROSUN, N., SADIKOVIĆ, S., SAN MARTÍN, Á., SMEDEREVAC, S., SMITH, S. J., SOBOLEVA, N., SONESSA, D. E., STANLEY, S. K., STOYANOVA, K., STOYANOV, D., TAKEMURA, K., THØGERSEN, J., TILIOUINE, H., TUNG, H., ULAMBAYAR, T., UZDAVINYTE, E. M., WAECHTER, R., WANG, Y.-T., WU, J., YAMBIO, B. M., YANKSON, E., YEH, K.-H., ... VAN LANGE, P. A. M. (2025). Everyday norms have become more permissive over time and vary across cultures. Communications Psychology, 3 (1), 145. doi:10.1038/s44271-025-00324-4. SALVADOR, C., IDROVO CARLIER, S., ISHII, K., TORRES CASTILLO, C., NANAKDEWA, K., SAN MARTÍN, Á., SAVANI, K., ... KITAYAMA, S. (2024). Emotionally expressive interdependence in Latin America. Triangulating through a comparison of three cultural zones. EMOTION, 24 (3), 820–835. doi:10.1037/emo0001302.

Proceedings

SAN MARTÍN, Á., HAFENBRACK, A. C., HAJO, A. (2021). Social ecology at work. Relational mobility buffers employees from job burnout. Annual Meeting Proceedings: Virtual 2021. Academy of Management Proceedings. CAO, J., SAN MARTÍN, Á., HAJO, A. (2020). Job mobility decreases work desirability by reducing cognitive trust and affective trust. Annual Meeting Proceedings: Virtual 2020. Academy of Management Proceedings. SAN MARTÍN, Á., VASILJEVIC, D., SWAAB, R., SINACEUR, M. (2013). Effects of expected repeated interactions on minority influence in small groups. Academy of Management Proceedings 2013. Academy of Management Proceedings.

Book Chapters

SAN MARTÍN, Á. (2023). Hiring a chef. Decision making simulation. In Reiche, S.B; Stahl, G.K.; Mendenhall, M.E. & Oddou, G.R. (Eds.), Readings and Cases in International Human Resource Management (7th edition). Routledge.

Non-refereed articles

SAN MARTÍN, Á., VÁZQUEZ, P. (2026). Four rooms, four matrices: A framework for cooperation and change in family firms. IESE. SAN MARTÍN, Á. (2024). Finding our shared roots when managing across cultures. IESE Business School Insight (166), pp. 60-68. SAN MARTÍN, Á. (2024). Busca las raíces comunes para liderar equipos multiculturales. IESE Business School Insight (166), pp. 60-66.

Studies

STEIN, G., SAN MARTÍN, Á. (2009). La sucesión del CEO. SAN MARTÍN, Á., STEIN, G. (2008). Convertirse en CEO: Internal labour market. Fases de un proceso.

Cases

CHINCHILLA, N., SAN MARTÍN, Á. (2022). Tessile Milana, SpA (B). IESE, DPO-796-E. CHINCHILLA, N., SAN MARTÍN, Á. (2022). Tessile Milana, SpA (B). IESE, DPO-796. CHINCHILLA, N., SAN MARTÍN, Á. (2022). Tessile Milana, SpA (A). IESE, DPO-795.