With the approval of the Senate, the Rector’s Council of WU Vienna University of Economics and Business has appointed Sebastian Kortmann to the position of Dean of the WU Executive Academy for a period of four years. Kortmann is currently an associate professor of strategy and innovation at the University of Amsterdam, where, among other responsibilities, he has served as director of the Amsterdam MBA program at the Amsterdam Business School. He will take office as WU Executive Academy Dean on January 1, 2026.

Sebastian Kortmann, aged 42, earned his doctoral degree at the University of Münster in 2012. He then joined the University of Amsterdam, where he has been an associate professor since 2016. His academic career has included stints at the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland, the University of San Diego (USA), and ESADE in Barcelona, among others. In 2015, he was appointed director of the Amsterdam MBA program at the Amsterdam Business School, where he has also been co-heading rankings, accreditations, and alumni management activities since 2021.

New Dean ready to continue on a successful path

In addition to his academic career and track record in teaching, Sebastian Kortmann also has extensive experience in higher education management, gained at the Amsterdam Business School. He has an excellent network in the German and Dutch start-up and entrepreneurial scenes and has headed several companies himself as co-founder and managing director. WU Rector Rupert Sausgruber is looking forward to working with the new Dean of the WU Executive Academy. “With Sebastian Kortmann, WU has recruited a seasoned higher education manager with extensive expertise and a strong sense of commitment who will continue on the successful path we’ve been pursuing during the past few years, and he will also provide fresh impetus to our executive education activities at WU,” Rector Sausgruber points out. Sebastian Kortmann says, “I’m very much looking forward to this challenge. Together, we’ll further strengthen the WU Executive Academy and consolidate its position as a leading provider of continuing education. My goal is to take WU’s executive education programs to the next level and meet the highest international standards,” he explains.

The WU Executive Academy – an international leader in its field

The WU Executive Academy is the home of WU Vienna’s continuing education programs and one of Europe’s leading executive education providers. Every year, around 3,000 executives, subject-matter specialists, and high potentials take advantage of the rich opportunities the WU Executive Academy offers to advance their professional development in practice-oriented, international, and interdisciplinary part-time MBA, LLM, master’s, bachelor’s, and custom programs. Courses and study trips held in more than 15 countries on four continents and a global alumni network speak to the WU Executive Academy’s global standing and innovative spirit.

Until Sebastian Kortmann takes office as new Dean, Margarethe Rammerstorfer, WU Vice-Rector for Academic Programs and Student Affairs, will oversee the management of the Executive Academy on an interim basis.