Joaquim Molins Figueras Foundation Chair of Strategic Alliances

Chair: Africa Ariño

The Joaquim Molins Figueras Foundation Chair of Strategic Alliances fosters the generation, diffusion and transfer of knowledge regarding the design and implementation of strategic alliances that enable companies to carry them out effectively.

To this end, it develops a series of research and teaching activities that include research projects, publications in specialized journals, and the organization of and participation in international congresses and seminars, such as the Annual International Congress of the Strategic Management Society (SMS).

The Chair collaborates with IESE’s MBA, PhD and Executive Education programs and organizes regular sessions for IESE’s Alumni Learning Program.

Research areas.

  • Understanding the key design traits and processes enabling companies to create successful alliances.
  • Comparative study alliances relative to other forms of corporate growth.
  • Studying alliances in emerging markets.

Chair.

Prof. Africa Ariño is a professor of the Strategic Management Department, where she holds the Joaquim Molins Figueras Foundation Chair of Strategic Alliances. She received her Ph.D. in Management (Strategy and Organization) from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). At IESE, she has served as Deputy Dean for Faculty, Head of the Strategic Management Department, and Director of the Ph.D. Program. Currently President of the Strategic Management Society (SMS), she was elected Fellow of the SMS in 2015. Her research interests include the governance and management of interorganizational relationships, with particular emphasis on strategic alliance design and dynamics. In 2014 she was Visiting Professor for six months at Lagos Business School, Lagos, Nigeria; and Strathmore Business School, Nairobi, Kenya.

Her research has been published in journals such as Global Strategy Journal, Journal of International Business Studies, Journal of Management, Journal of Management Studies, Organization Science, and Strategic Management Journal, among others. Also, she is author of numerous contributions in publications aimed at a managerial audience, such as California Management Review or The Academy of Management Executive. She is co-author of the book Entrepreneurial Alliances (with Jeffrey J. Reuer, and Paul Olk), and co-editor of Strategic alliances: Governance and contracts (with Jeffrey J. Reuer) and Creating value through international strategy (with P. Ghemawat and J.E. Ricart).

Prof. Ariño has served as Associate Editor of Academy of Management Discoveries, European Management Review, and Global Strategy Journal. A current member of the editorial board of Strategic Management Journal, in the past she served in the editorial boards of Journal of International Business Studies, Journal of Management, and Journal of Management Studies, among others.

Prof. Ariño was the Chairperson of the 2014 Annual International Conference of the Strategic Management Society. Also, she has organized several specialized conferences related to her research interests.

She has served on the Executive Committee of the SMS as President Elect (2019-2020)  and as a member of its Board of Directors by membership election in two consecutive terms (2011 – 2013; 2014 – 2016). She was also elected to serve in the Executive Committee of the Business Policy and Strategy Division of the Academy of Management (AoM) (2008 – 2010).

She has participated in diverse consulting projects concerning issues related to strategic management, and others specific to family-owned companies.

To learn more about Prof. Ariño, watch these interviews with AIB Frontline and Meet the Scholar.

Research Collaborators.

Arne Keller

Arne Keller

Assistant Professor, TU Wien

Bruce T. Lamont

Bruce T. Lamont

Jim Moran Eminent Scholar of Business Administration and Chairperson of the Department of Management in the College of Business, Florida State University
Fabrice Lumineau

Fabrice Lumineau

Professor, HKU Business School, University of Hong Kong

Nuno Oliveira

Nuno Oliveira

Associate Professor, Tilburg University (The Netherlands)

Jeffrey J. Reuer

Jeffrey J. Reuer

Blake Family Endowed Chair in Strategic Management, Purdue University
Xavier Sobrepere

Xavier Sobrepere

Assistant Professor, Tilburg University

Beverly Tyler

Beverly Tyler

Visiting Full Professor at Virginia Tech University and Professor Emeritus at North Carolina State University

Activities.

  • Ariño, A. Panelist, “International strategic alliance research in the spotlight of megatrends and microfoundations,” Annual Meeting of the Strategic Management Society (Paris, September 22-25, 2018).
  • Ariño, A. “PPPs in health care: Clinical service delivery,” Strategic Management Society Special Conference “Collaborative Strategies: New Thinking about Alliances, Mergers, and Acquisitions” (San José, Costa Rica, December 14-16, 2017).
  • Galindo, K., K. Ellis, B. T. Lamont, and A. Ariño. “Institutional Determinants of Ownership Stake in Intra-Africa Acquisitions: The Moderating Role of Geographic Distance,” Annual Meeting of the Strategic Management Society (Houston, USA, October 28-31, 2017).
  • Ariño, A. “Towards a revised typology of alliance governance,” Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management (Atlanta, USA, August 4-8, 2017).
  • Ariño, A. Panelist, Professional Development Workshop on “Alliance Dynamics and Instability,” Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management (Atlanta, USA, August 4-8, 2017).
  • Keller, A., F. Lumineau, T. Mellewigt and A. Ariño: “Alliance governance mechanisms revisited: a temporal contingency framework.” Université de Genève (Geneva, Switzerland, December 13, 2018).
  • Lamont, B. T., K. Ellis, and A. Ariño. “Institutional determinants of ownership stake in intra-Africa cross-border acquisitions.”
    • University of Warwick (Coventry, U.K., January 31, 2018).
    • University of Amsterdam (Amsterdam, The Netherlands, November 21, 2017).
    • University of Groningen (Groningen, The Netherlands, November 20, 2017).
  • How Alliances Strengthen the Social Economy. IESE Barcelona (October 10, 2022); IESE Madrid (February 9, 2023).

The Joaquim Molins Figueras Chair of Strategic Alliances invites you to take part in future research studies, by registering your interest here. 

  • Strategic Alliance Working Group Workshop. Munich (April 1, 2022).
  • Alliances and Cooperation: The Challenge of the Social Economy. Webinar (November 10, 2020).
  • Alliances and Cooperation: The Challenge of the Social Economy. IESE Barcelona (October 1, 2019).
  • Strategic Alliance Working Group Workshop. Barcelona (April 26, 2019).
  • Doctoral Colloquium on Strategic Alliances. IESE Barcelona (April 25, 2019).
  • Ariño, A. & A. Oprescu: “Cooperar en tiempos de pandemia”, El Economista, June 25, 2020, p. 4.
  • Ariño, A. & A. Oprescu: “Las nuevas alianzas de Telefónica”, Expansión, March 2, 2019, p. 43.

Sponsors.

Fundacio Joaquim Molins Figueras

Publications

Journal Articles (refereed)

ARIÑO, A., BERRONE, P., RICART, J. E., SOBREPERE, X., YONG, A. (2026). A stakeholder governance framework for public-private partnerships. ACADEMY OF MANAGEMENT REVIEW. doi:10.5465/amr.2024.0051. (Online first) OLIVEIRA, N., ARIÑO, A., LUMINEAU, F. (2023). Time in international strategic alliances. Progress and prospect. Journal of World Business, 58 (4), Article 101456. doi:10.1016/j.jwb.2023.101456. GALDINO, K. M., ELLIS, K. M., LAMONT, B. T., ARIÑO, A. (2023). Institutional determinants of ownership stake in cross‐border acquisitions in Africa. The moderating role of geographic distance. Thunderbird International Business Review, 65 (3), 311-323. doi:10.1002/tie.22329.

Proceedings

DAVILA, J., MENDOZA, A., ELVIRA, M., ARIÑO, A. (2026). Joint Ownership Logics. Understanding Governance Choices in Alliances. Annual Meeting Proceedings: Philadelphia 2026. Philadelphia: Academy of Management Proceedings. ASSIA ANTONELLI, G., ARIÑO, A., LEONE, I. (2025). Designing effective contracts in open social innovation ecosystems. Annual Meeting Proceedings: Copenhagen 2025. Academy of Management Proceedings.

Book Chapters

ARIÑO, A. (2019). Managing strategic alliances. In A. Caldart, J.E. Ricart, A. Carrera (Eds.), General Management in Latin and Ibero American Organizations: A Humanistic Perspective. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. ARIÑO, A., ANDREU I CIVIT, R. (2019). Learning to Coordinate in Alliances: Toward a Microfoundation Framework. In Farok J. Contractor and Jeffrey J. Reuer (Ed.), Frontiers of Strategic Alliance Research: Negotiating, Structuring and Governing Partnerships (pp. 135 - 151). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ARSLAN, B., ARIÑO, A. (2017). The process of cooperation in strategic alliances. In Luis F. Mesquita, Roberto Ragozzino, and Jeffrey J. Reuer (Eds.), Collaborative Strategy: Critical Issues for Alliances and Networks (pp. 134 - 143). Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing.

Non-refereed articles

PASTERIZA, D., ARIÑO, A., CASADESUS-MASANELL, R. (2025). 3 ways to make all your stakeholders feel heard. Harvard Business Review. ARIÑO, A., ANDREU I CIVIT, R. (2018). Claves para coordinar alianzas de valor. Un modelo "micro" de eficiencia "macro". IESE Insight (36), pp. 15 - 21. ARIÑO, A., ANDREU I CIVIT, R. (2018). Building Blocks for Healthy Alliance Coordination. A Micro Framework for Macro Efficiency. IESE Insight (36), pp. 15 - 21.

Studies

ARIÑO, A., CARRILLO, J., LÓPEZ, X., DE MOTA, C., DE PUIG, M. (2025). Alianzas y cooperación en entidades del tercer sector social en Cataluña. IESE, Barcelona, España. ARIÑO, A., CARRILLO, J., LÓPEZ, X., DE PUIG, M., MOTA, C. (2025). Alianzas y cooperación en entidades del tercer sector social en Cataluña. Un acercamiento a su realidad. IESE. ARIÑO, A., BUXEDA, T., CARRILLO, J., LÓPEZ, X., MOLINS, E. (2022). Cómo las alianzas fortalecen la economía social. Un marco para vencer las reticencias del sector en España. IESE, Barcelona, España.

Cases

PASTORIZA, D., ARIÑO, A., CALLEJA, R. (2024). Shifting alliances in the golf industry: The PGA Tour, the European Tour, and the Saudi Public Investment Fund (B). IESE, SM-1758-E. PASTORIZA, D., ARIÑO, A., CALLEJA, R. (2024). Shifting alliances in the golf industry: The PGA Tour, the European Tour, and the Saudi Public Investment Fund (C). IESE, SM-1759-E. PASTORIZA, D., ARIÑO, A., CALLEJA, R. (2024). Shifting alliances in the golf industry: The PGA Tour, the European Tour, and the Saudi Public Investment Fund (A). IESE, SM-1757-E.

Technical Notes

ARIÑO, A., DE PUIG, M. (2024). Strategic alliances: An option to enable corporate growth. IESE, SMN-711-E. ARIÑO, A., DE PUIG, M. (2024). Alianzas estratégicas: una opción para potenciar el crecimiento de la empresa. IESE, SMN-711.

Outputs in other media

ARIÑO, A., OPRESCU, A. (2019). Las nuevas alianzas de Telefónica. Expansión, Madrid.

Journal Articles (refereed)

ARIÑO, A., BERRONE, P., RICART, J. E., SOBREPERE, X., YONG, A. (2026). A stakeholder governance framework for public-private partnerships. ACADEMY OF MANAGEMENT REVIEW. doi:10.5465/amr.2024.0051. (Online first) OLIVEIRA, N., ARIÑO, A., LUMINEAU, F. (2023). Time in international strategic alliances. Progress and prospect. Journal of World Business, 58 (4), Article 101456. doi:10.1016/j.jwb.2023.101456. GALDINO, K. M., ELLIS, K. M., LAMONT, B. T., ARIÑO, A. (2023). Institutional determinants of ownership stake in cross‐border acquisitions in Africa. The moderating role of geographic distance. Thunderbird International Business Review, 65 (3), 311-323. doi:10.1002/tie.22329.

Working Papers

JANÉ, J., LAGO, A., ARIÑO, A. (2005). Measuring the performance of international logistics outsourcing partnerships: A dyadic perspective analysis (DI-608-E). GALLO, M. Á., ARIÑO, A., MÁÑEZ, I., CAPPUYNS, K. (2004). Internationalization via strategic alliances in family businesses (DI-540-E). OLK, P., ARIÑO, A. (2003). Testing assumptions about evaluating strategic alliance performance (DI-529-E).

Proceedings

DAVILA, J., MENDOZA, A., ELVIRA, M., ARIÑO, A. (2026). Joint Ownership Logics. Understanding Governance Choices in Alliances. Annual Meeting Proceedings: Philadelphia 2026. Philadelphia: Academy of Management Proceedings. MADSEN, T. L., LEIBLEIN, M. J., ARIÑO, A., KING, A., LIEBERMAN, M. B., MARKIDES C. (2026). From beliefs to behaviors. How factfulness shapes strategic management. Annual Meeting Proceedings: Philadelphia 2026. Academy of Management Proceedings. ASSIA ANTONELLI, G., ARIÑO, A., LEONE, I. (2025). Designing effective contracts in open social innovation ecosystems. Annual Meeting Proceedings: Copenhagen 2025. Academy of Management Proceedings.

Books

REUER, J., ARIÑO, A., OLK, P. (2010). Entrepreneurial Alliances. Madrid: Pearson Prentice Hall.

Edited books

ARIÑO, A., REUER, J. J. (2006). Strategic alliances: Governance and contracts. Basingstoke [England]: Palgrave Macmillan. ARIÑO, A., GHEMAWAT, P., RICART, J. E. (2005). Creating value through international strategy. Basingstoke [England]: Palgrave Macmillan.

Book Chapters

ARIÑO, A. (2024). Alianzas. Emprender juntos con visión y confianza. En Fité, R.M. ; Nueno, P.; Mehta, K. and Vilà, J. (Eds.), Primero las personas: pensamiento emprendedor para resolver problemas empresariales (pp. 155-166). Barcelona: Gestión 2000. ARIÑO, A. (2019). Managing strategic alliances. In A. Caldart, J.E. Ricart, A. Carrera (Eds.), General Management in Latin and Ibero American Organizations: A Humanistic Perspective. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. ARIÑO, A., ANDREU I CIVIT, R. (2019). Learning to Coordinate in Alliances: Toward a Microfoundation Framework. In Farok J. Contractor and Jeffrey J. Reuer (Ed.), Frontiers of Strategic Alliance Research: Negotiating, Structuring and Governing Partnerships (pp. 135 - 151). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Non-refereed articles

PASTERIZA, D., ARIÑO, A., CASADESUS-MASANELL, R. (2025). 3 ways to make all your stakeholders feel heard. Harvard Business Review. ARIÑO, A., ANDREU I CIVIT, R. (2018). Claves para coordinar alianzas de valor. Un modelo "micro" de eficiencia "macro". IESE Insight (36), pp. 15 - 21. ARIÑO, A., ANDREU I CIVIT, R. (2018). Building Blocks for Healthy Alliance Coordination. A Micro Framework for Macro Efficiency. IESE Insight (36), pp. 15 - 21.

Studies

ARIÑO, A., CARRILLO, J., LÓPEZ, X., DE MOTA, C., DE PUIG, M. (2025). Alianzas y cooperación en entidades del tercer sector social en Cataluña. IESE, Barcelona, España. ARIÑO, A., CARRILLO, J., LÓPEZ, X., DE PUIG, M., MOTA, C. (2025). Alianzas y cooperación en entidades del tercer sector social en Cataluña. Un acercamiento a su realidad. IESE. ARIÑO, A., BUXEDA, T., CARRILLO, J., LÓPEZ, X., MOLINS, E. (2022). Cómo las alianzas fortalecen la economía social. Un marco para vencer las reticencias del sector en España. IESE, Barcelona, España.

Cases

PASTORIZA, D., ARIÑO, A., CALLEJA, R. (2024). Shifting alliances in the golf industry: The PGA Tour, the European Tour, and the Saudi Public Investment Fund (B). IESE, SM-1758-E. PASTORIZA, D., ARIÑO, A., CALLEJA, R. (2024). Shifting alliances in the golf industry: The PGA Tour, the European Tour, and the Saudi Public Investment Fund (C). IESE, SM-1759-E. PASTORIZA, D., ARIÑO, A., CALLEJA, R. (2024). Shifting alliances in the golf industry: The PGA Tour, the European Tour, and the Saudi Public Investment Fund (A). IESE, SM-1757-E.

Technical Notes

ARIÑO, A., DE PUIG, M. (2024). Strategic alliances: An option to enable corporate growth. IESE, SMN-711-E. ARIÑO, A., DE PUIG, M. (2024). Alianzas estratégicas: una opción para potenciar el crecimiento de la empresa. IESE, SMN-711. ARIÑO, A. (2006). Strategic Alliances: An Option to Enable Corporate Growth. IESE, DGN-648-E.

Outputs in other media

OPRESCU, A., ARIÑO, A. (2020). Cooperar en tiempos de pandemia. El Economista, Madrid. ARIÑO, A., OPRESCU, A. (2019). Las nuevas alianzas de Telefónica. Expansión, Madrid. ARIÑO, A. (2017). Repensemos la estrategia. Las investigaciones sobre África ponen en duda la utilidad de las actuales teorías de la dirección de empresas. IESE Insight.