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Michele Quintano, new director of Esade Executive Education

This appointment bolsters Esade’s commitment to guiding companies through their transformation processes and consolidates the business school’s strategic development in Madrid

26 Jan, 2026 | 3 min read

Professor Michele Quintano PhD has been appointed director of Esade Executive Education, Esade’s management training unit, acclaimed as one of the world’s top 5 for open executive programs according to the Financial Times’ most recent Executive Education ranking.

In his new post, Quintano will spearhead the academic and growth strategy of a number of programs specifically designed in response to the challenges arising from the global business landscape, whilst focusing on organizational transformation, sustainability, responsible leadership, good corporate governance, the promotion of female leadership, and also delivering new content and programs concerning the impact of technology and artificial intelligence (AI). Based in Madrid, Michele Quintano will cement the campus’s status as a strategic hub for executive training and will reinforce Esade’s links to the business world in Spain and abroad.

Executive education making a real impact

The programs delivered by Esade Executive Education consist of open programs and custom solutions for companies and institutions tailored to cater for the different phases of a management career. They also include first-rate programs focused on governance and boards of directors, such as the Programa para Consejeros, in addition to well established female leadership ventures such as Promociona, developed in conjunction with CEOE.

In the field of innovation, Esade has incorporated new programs that address the strategic impact and responsible use of AI, such as Rethinking Business with AI, in addition to incorporating content into Executive Masters and the Executive MBA designed to improve productivity and transform business models. These courses are complemented by other programs developed with strategic partners and also an increase in In/On formats that blend the face-to-face experience with digital learning.

Career

Michele Quintano has a doctorate in Business Administration and Management from Esade and is an associate professor in the Department of Marketing. Previously, he was the deputy director of Esade Executive Education where he played a key part in developing the portfolio of programs and tailoring it to present-day challenges. In the course of his career, he has held different academic and managerial responsibilities at Esade and other international institutions such as INCAE Business School (Costa Rica).

Quintano follows in the footsteps of Josep Franch who spearheaded a phase of consolidating Esade’s management training internationally – a phase distinguished by outstanding results in global rankings and an increase in high-value programs for executives and companies.