Björn Ambos

Björn Ambos

Björn Ambos

Prof. Ph.D.
Full Professor of Strategic Management
IfB-HSG
Büro 4-241
Dufourstrasse 40a
9000 St. Gallen
Phone: +41 71 224 7610
Main Focuses
  • Multinational companies
  • Innovation
  • Organization
Fields of research
  • Global Strategies
  • Regional Headquarters
  • Strategic Management
  • Innovation in Multinational Companies
  • Strategic Management
Education Bjoern Ambos is a Chaired Professor of Strategic Management and managing director at the Institute of Management of the University of St. Gallen. Professor Ambos studied business administration at the University of Hamburg (Germany) and the Florida State University (USA). He earned a Dipl.-Kfm. and a PhD in International Management from the University of Hamburg and a postdoctoral qualification (Habilitation) from WU Vienna. He previously held permanent or visiting positions at the University of Edinburgh, the University of Hamburg, Bocconi University, Florida International University and WU Vienna.   
Professional Career

Professor Ambos has gained several years of industry experience occupying international management positions in Vietnam, Italy, Paris and New York. He has conducted research with or consulted leading management teams all over the world, including, Astellas, Die Presse, EADS, Eli Lilly, Ford, France Telecom, Helvetia, Hutchison 3G, Honda, Jungheinrich, JPMorgan, L’Oreal, Nike, Pfizer, Porsche, Puma, Roland Berger, Royal Dutch Shell, Rewe Group, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, SAP, Siemens, Solvay, Unilever, Telekom Austria, Volkswagen and Villeroy & Boch. He has won awards both for outstanding teaching and outstanding research. Among the latest two the “Course of the Year” awarded by the Community of European Management Schools and the Academy of Management best paper award in 2013. 
Additional Information

His research has been published in journals such as International Business Review, Journal of International Management, Journal of World Business, Long Range Planning, Management International Review, Organization Science, Research Policy and Strategic Management Journal. 

He has presented papers and delivered addresses at more than eighty universities and conferences over the last ten years.  

Among his most cited publications are:  

  • Håkanson, L., Ambos, B., Schuster, A., & Leicht-Deobald, U. (2016). The Psychology of Psychic Distance: Antecedents of Asymmetric Perceptions. Journal of World Business, 51(2), 308-318.  
  • Nell, P. C., Ambos, B. (2013). Parenting Advantage in the MNC: An Embeddedness Perspective on the Value Added by Headquarters. Strategic Management Journal, 34(9):1086–1103.  
  • Brenner, B., Ambos, B. (2012). A question of legitimacy? A Dynamic Perspective on Multinational Firm Control. Organization Science, 24 (3). 773-795.  
  • Ambos, B. & Schlegelmilch, B. (2007). Innovation and Control in the Multinational Firm: Political and Contingency Approaches. Strategic Management Journal, Vol. 28, pp. 473-486.  
  • Ambos, B. (2005). Foreign Direct Investment in Industrial Research and Development: A Study of German MNCs. Research Policy, Vol. 34, No 4, pp. 395-410.