Chair’s Statement – Management History Division
Copenhagen, July 28, 2025
It is with humility and determination that I begin my term as Chair of the Management History Division. First, I want to express my heartfelt thanks to all the members who, back in 2022, voted for me –a complete outsider– and believed in my potential to serve this foundational community. Your trust has stayed with me every step of the way. I have not forgotten it—and I never will.
I also want to offer my sincere gratitude to Jeffrey Muldoon for his outstanding service, leadership, and friendship. He took the helm at a difficult time and helped to ethically stabilize the Division. Jeffrey has set a tone of integrity, and I aim to build on that foundation with urgency and purpose.
Let’s be honest: this is not just another term. It is a turning point. We are in the middle of most severe crisis in our Division’s life. Our activities have been underperforming, executives engagement has been inconsistent and our future as a Division is not guaranteed. But we have already started turning the tide.
Over the past year, our team has made real strides:
· We revised and modernized our bylaws to better define roles and prevent misconduct.
· We launched new development opportunities, such as virtual paper development workshops.
· We awarded 13 travel scholarships to scholars from India, Brazil, Ethiopia, China, and beyond.
· We created a new volunteer program that has broadened our inclusivity, welcoming members from Russia, Hong Kong, the Czech Republic, Italy, and more.
· We redesigned our Division logo after eight months of collaborative work—what a result!
· We reactivated and professionalized our digital communications. Today, we are the third most-followed Division on LinkedIn, despite being one of the smallest.
These are meaningful steps. But they are not enough. I am not, and we cannot, be satisfied. Now is the time for action—not just ideas, but concrete execution. Looking ahead, our agenda, coming from our three-year plan, is focused and bold. We will:
· Launch a new webinar series for emerging management historians.
· Introduce an Ambassadors’ Program to expand our global presence.
· Initiate a formal mentoring program for early-career scholars.
· Strengthen our digital presence to engage more members worldwide.
· Curate and share resources for teaching and researching management history.
· Conduct interviews with MHD best paper authors and scholars publishing in related journals.
We want this Division to be the house of all traditions in management history—a big tent where everyone feels welcome. From classical approaches to unconventional thinking, we aim to be a vibrant space where novel—even weird—ideas are not just tolerated but actively encouraged and supported. Fulfilling this vision, as Chair, is not about prestige; it is about service and responsibility. Each member of the executive team, myself included, must commit to action—measured not by titles, but by output and impact.
Leadership in this moment means showing up. Making hard choices. Moving quickly. Supporting one another. It also means remembering why we are here: to preserve and advance a vital intellectual tradition, a tradition of inquiry that brings history into conversation with management, organization, and change. One that takes history seriously.
The path ahead will not be easy. But it is worth walking—together.
No single person can revitalize this Division. It will take all of us. Volunteers, executive members, engaged scholars—working together with integrity, energy, and a shared sense of purpose.
This is not a time for hesitation. This is a time for work. And I am honored to do that work alongside you.
Matteo Cristofaro
Chair, Management History Division