Walter Kuemmerle is an associate professor of business administration at the Harvard Business School, with a joint appointment in the Entrepreneurial Management and Technology & Operations Management faculty groups.
Professor Kuemmerle's research and teaching interests fall within the domain of knowledge and capital management in a global economy. More specifically, he is interested in venture capital, foreign direct investment and technology strategy. Presently, he studies venture capital systems and entrepreneurship in different countries. He also studies the factors that induce firms to establish R&D sites in foreign countries. In a related study he examines how new technologies influence the value of strategic assets in the pharmaceutical industry.
Professor Kuemmerle holds a Master's degree in Industrial Economics from the Koblenz School of Corporate Management in Germany where he graduated best in his class in 1992. In 1996 he earned a Doctorate in Business Administration with a specialization in strategy and business policy at the Harvard Business School. His thesis, "Home Base and Foreign Direct Investment in R&D," was awarded the George S. Dively Award for the best thesis research proposed in 1995 at the Harvard Business School. Kuemmerle also holds a degree in Commerce from Ecole Superieure de Commerce in Lyon/France and has studied both at Kobe University and Keio University in Japan.
Professor Kuemmerle's research has appeared in academic journals, and several bookchapters. Kuemmerle has worked as a consultant to a number of companies. His work experience prior to joining the Harvard Business School was in banking (Deutsche Bank AG, Goldman Sachs), consulting (McKinsey & Company), chemicals (Hoechst Group) and pharmaceuticals (Eisai Co. Ltd.).
In 1999, Professor Kuemmerle was named one of two Novartis Fellows at the Harvard Business School. Kuemmerle has taught in Harvard Business School's MBA, doctoral and executive education programs. He is currently teaching a new MBA elective course "International Entrepreneurial Finance," which he developed. He has served as a consultant to financial institutions, large and small corporations and governments around the world. He serves on the board of several companies.
