Professor Mark Easterby-Smith, FBAM - RIP
We are immensely saddened to hear of the death last night of one of BAM’s founders, Professor Mark Easterby-Smith FBAM, after many years of living with Parkinson’s Disease. He was Emeritus Professor in the Department of Organisation, Work and Technology at Lancaster University Management School (LUMS). A leading writer and thinker in the field of organisational learning, he also co-authored (with Richard Thorpe and Andy Lowe) one of the key texts on research methods in management. However, his legacy as one of the small group that brought into being the British Academy of Management, will stand testimony to his true dedication to supporting and driving forward UK management research.
Professor Easterby-Smith was Chair and President of BAM in 2004 and 2007 respectively, and over many years he energetically led or contributed to many significant developments within BAM, which have made it the body of international standing that it is today. He was instrumental in developing BAM’s focus on capacity building, in particular our rightly renowned doctoral support programme, and played a key role in establishing our network of Special Interest Groups. He actively aided BAM’s development of partnerships with other organisations, especially the ESRC, and strove to professionalise our operations.
Professor Sir Cary Cooper, BAM’s founding President, said: “Mark was a great colleague and friend, a real gentle soul and wonderful human being”. Professor Katy Mason, Chair of BAM, said, “I was very sorry to receive this news; he was a major figure in the development of BAM and we treasure his memory. Mark always had time for Early Career Researcher and was generous and kind in his encouragement and support of their work. I benefited personally from his kindness and wisdom. He will be greatly missed". Professor Nic Beech, President of BAM, also paid tribute: “Like many of my generation, I benefitted enormously from Mark’s thoughtful mentorship. He was so generous with his time and the depth of his thought. His achievements were many, but he nurtured those who were developing their knowledge of the field in a remarkably ego-free way.”
Click here to read a fuller appreciation and more about his life brought together by Professor Richard Thorpe FBAM.’
Tributes sent via social media and directly to BAM Office
FROM TWITTER
Prof Yusra Mouzughi: ‘Such sad news..a very humble and competent scholar. RIP’
Ruth Slater: ‘I’m so sorry to hear this. His work was never far away as a student and academic’
Prof Emmanuella Plakoyiannaki: ‘A big loss for our community. RIP Mark’
Prof Anthony McDonnell: ‘Very sad news. RIP’
Prof Robert MacIntosh: ‘Indeed… a lovely colleague’
Prof Jane Broadbent: ‘Sad news’
Prof Emma Parry FBAM: ‘This is very sad news. He taught on the #CranfieldDBA programme for several years. His explanation of research philosophy was like no other.’
Prof Mark Jenkins: ‘Very sad news, a really great colleague and huge supporter of doctoral students everywhere. #RIP’
Prof Rick Delbridge FBAM: ‘Very sad news. Mark was a thoughtful scholar and a supportive colleague. Above all, I’ll remember him as a lovely man."
FROM EMAILS
Prof Jeremy Clegg FBAM: Mark made a fantastic contribution to our field, and to the education and training of new researchers. My first experience of him was under the ESRC Management Teaching Fellowship Scheme, where I had three fellows (in total) under the scheme. Mark ran the Research Philosophy sessions for the fellows. As the academic supervisor I was eligible to accompany my fellows, if I wanted. Naturally, I chose to attend Mark’s training, it was so good!
Prof Mark Saunders FBAM: It is was with great sadness that I learned of Mark’s death. A true scholar and people developer
Prof Greg Bamber FBAM: ….thinking of those who were close to Mark. We all miss him, one of BAM’s founders, a great bloke, a fine and generous scholar. Much sympathy from Melbourne, Oz, where he lived and went to school, many years ago. Mark, FBAM - RIP’.