Center for Positive Organizations announces cohort of Executives in Residence

August 3, 2016

Former execs to bridge leading edge scholarship and positive leadership practices

The University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business has announced that four senior leaders will serve as a cohort of Executives in Residence at the Center for Positive Organizations. In their two-year appointments, the leaders will unify their successful business backgrounds with the ongoing research, teaching, and organizational partnerships of the Center.

Richard Haller and David Drews will join Fred Keller and Roger Newton on the Center’s team of researchers, leaders, students, teachers, and staff. Their appointments represent a further innovative step by the Center for Positive Organizations in bringing research-based practices to organizational leaders in inspiring and practical ways. In 2010 and 2012, the Center for Positive Organizations was recognized by the Academy of Management for first opening up a new field of scholarly inquiry, and then for its impact on management practices.

Haller, Drews, Keller, and Newton have held senior leadership roles in Walbridge, Project: Worldwide, Cascade Engineering, and Esperion Therapeutics respectively. Collectively, they have created billions of dollars of economic value, while making a difference in the lives of employees and communities.

The Center for Positive Organizations will serve as a platform for these leaders to distill and share the leadership insights generated over their decades of corporate leadership. As Executives in Residence, they will mentor students and alumni, share their insights and experiences through writing and speaking, and serve as a bridge to business leaders aspiring to build positive organizations.

“The Center represents an enlightened pathway for organizations to thrive and succeed by applying research and tools to their most valuable asset, their human capital,” explained Haller. “I want to be a part of this ground-breaking work and share my experience, because it’s compelling, meaningful, and relevant. It’s both evolutionary and revolutionary.”

“We’re very excited that Rick and David will be joining Fred, Roger, and the team at the Center as Executives in Residence. We see this as a true co-learning experience, and an opportunity to create a safe space for leaders, students, and faculty to come together and learn from each other,” said Chris White, the Center’s managing director. “Their involvement will serve as a bridge to help us take our research to a wider audience in inspiring and practical ways.”