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IÉSEG strengthens its academic governance with the appointment of four Academic Directors

As of September 1, 2026, IÉSEG is strengthening the academic governance of its programs. Romain NOËL has been appointed Academic Director of the Grande École Program (PGE), Paulami MITRA becomes Academic Director of the Specialized Master’s Programs, Kristine TAMAYO takes on the role of Academic Director of the Bachelor’s Programs, while Bernard COULATY becomes Academic Director of the Global MBA.

These strategic developments reflect IÉSEG’s commitment to strengthening academic quality, ensuring greater coherence across its programs, and providing students with enhanced support throughout their academic journey. They also aim to support the continued evolution of the School’s programs in response to the expectations of students and businesses, as well as the changing demands of higher education.

Drawing on their complementary expertise and in-depth knowledge of IÉSEG, Romain NOËL, Paulami MITRA, Kristine TAMAYO and Bernard COULATY will each contribute, within their respective areas of responsibility, to the School’s continued development, reputation and academic excellence.

Previously organized by academic cycle (Bachelor’s and Master’s), the governance of the Grande École Program is evolving toward unified academic leadership across the entire curriculum. In this context, Romain NOËL, previously Deputy Academic Director responsible for the Bachelor’s cycle, has been appointed Academic Director of the PGE, effective September 1, 2026.

Romain NOËL joined IÉSEG 14 years ago. He holds a PhD in Economics and Social Sciences from Université de Lille 1, where his research focused on international student mobility and its macroeconomic impact on host countries. He began his career at IÉSEG as a part-time lecturer in economics before quickly taking on management responsibilities. He subsequently served as Deputy Director for Student Pathways and Engagement, and then as Deputy Director of Student Life, overseeing student associations in particular, while also serving as Deputy Academic Director of the PGE for the Bachelor’s cycle.

His appointment is intended to strengthen academic continuity between the first years of study and entry into the Master’s cycle, ensuring students receive consistent and enhanced support throughout their time at the School.

“This unified leadership of the PGE, under the supervision of Robert JOLIET, Academic Director of Programs, builds on the work undertaken in recent years to harmonize the Bachelor’s and Master’s cycles. Our priority has always been, and remains, the quality of the degree and academic excellence, in order to ensure our students’ employability in a constantly changing world, where some of tomorrow’s jobs do not yet exist. This means strengthening opportunities for professional experience, providing training in artificial intelligence and critical thinking, and offering even greater support for each student’s academic success.” – Romain NOEL

The growth of the Bachelor in International Business (BIB), together with the ongoing reflection on the future of IÉSEG’s three-year undergraduate offering, has led the School to strengthen the academic coordination of its Bachelor’s programs. In this context, IÉSEG has created the position of Academic Director of Bachelor’s Programs, entrusted to Kristine TAMAYO.

Currently Academic Director of the Bachelor in International Business, which she has led at the Paris campus since September 2023 and will continue to oversee, Kristine TAMAYO graduated from IÉSEG’s Master in International Business in 2011 and joined the School in 2012 as a Teaching and Research Assistant. She subsequently earned a PhD in Business Economics from KU Leuven and became a Professor of Leadership and Human Resources in 2020.

Kristine will now join IÉSEG’s Academic Programs Directorate. In her new role, she will contribute to shaping the future of the Bachelor’s program portfolio more broadly, with a focus on academic and pedagogical quality, as well as the development and visibility of these programs, working closely with academic and administrative teams.

“The growth of our BIB program confirms that there is strong demand for rigorous three-year undergraduate programs that are closely connected to the realities of the professional world. My priority in this new role will be to build on this momentum and progressively develop, in collaboration with the Academic Director of Programs and in coordination with the teams involved, a coherent and high-value Bachelor’s portfolio, guided by the needs of students and the market. Our ambition is to offer rich and comprehensive programs that can accelerate students’ career paths without compromising the quality of their education, while enabling each individual to fully develop their potential and become a changemaker capable of making a positive contribution to tomorrow’s society.” – Kristine TAMAYO

In response to the growth and strategic importance of IÉSEG’s Specialized Master’s portfolio, the School has announced the creation of the position of Academic Director of Specialized Master’s Programs. This new role reflects the growing need to coordinate academic and cross-program priorities across the full portfolio.

Paulami MITRA will lead this new academic function. With extensive experience in program management and a deep understanding of academic program development, Paulami completed her PhD in Social Entrepreneurship and joined IÉSEG’s Department of Strategy, Entrepreneurship and Innovation in 2012 as a Teaching and Research Assistant at the Paris – La Défense campus. In 2019, she was appointed Professor and became Academic Director of the Master in International Business.

“The creation of this position reflects the growing importance and diversity of IÉSEG’s Specialized Master’s portfolio, as well as the need for dedicated academic leadership. My priority will be to strengthen the academic quality and coherence of the portfolio as a whole, while preserving the distinctive identity and value proposition of each program. This new organizational structure will enable us to foster greater collaboration and knowledge sharing, identify synergies, and ensure that our programs evolve in a coordinated manner. What particularly excites me about this new role is the opportunity to contribute to the development of a portfolio with such promising potential. I look forward to working closely with faculty, students, businesses and our broader stakeholder network to further strengthen the academic experience and impact of our Specialized Master’s programs.” – Paulami MITRA

After more than 30 years working in Human Resources in France, Europe and Asia for major French international groups, Bernard COULATY joined IÉSEG in 2020 to teach leadership and human resources management across the Grande École Program, Specialized Master’s programs and executive education. His new responsibilities as Academic Director of the Global MBA come in addition to his role as Academic Director of the Executive Specialized Master’s in Transformation and Human Development, which he created four years ago.

“My vision for the Global MBA is built around a reciprocal commitment: our four ambitions — developing a truly global perspective, making purpose the driving force behind leadership, transforming with impact, and preparing for what lies ahead — are matched by an equally clear commitment from our participants. The year is not a catalogue of courses to be completed, but a progression: understanding, analyzing, leading, innovating, specializing, integrating. Each step prepares for the next, culminating in the final project, which turns all of this into a professional achievement. And because the experience brought into the classroom is as valuable as the experience of those leading it, learning is built with and through the participants, who are invited to make the year their own: their expertise, their journey, and their way of leading.” – Bernard COULATY