Carnegie Mellon University
June 09, 2011

Press Release: Modules for Dual-Degree Executive MBA Program in Asset and Wealth Management Begin in Switzerland

International Program Is Led by Faculty of Carnegie Mellon's Tepper School of Business, HEC Lausanne

Contact: Mark Burd / 412-268-3486 / mdburd@andrew.cmu.edu                   
                                   
LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND—Increasing complexity and uncertainty in international financial markets and heightened demands from financial service clients continue to create new challenges for asset and wealth managers. A diverse class of professionals is now learning how to address these issues through a unique international dual degree executive MBA curriculum offered through the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University; HEC Lausanne, the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Lausanne; and the Swiss Finance Institute

The first two-week module of the Dual-Degree Executive MBA in Asset and Wealth Management Program convened in Lausanne, Switzerland, with a diverse and impressive class of experienced private and institutional investment managers from around the world.

The overall curriculum consists of six two-week modules covering both executive level management courses and advanced asset and wealth management courses focused on the latest financial models taught in the context of today's market challenges. Taught at the host institutions in the United States and Switzerland, the program is spread over 20 months, allowing the professional students to remain connected to the marketplace and to apply concepts introduced through the coursework.

"The amount of information needed today to be effective in international asset and wealth management is substantial," said Robert M. Dammon, dean, Tepper School of Business. "This program was created to meet the needs of practicing professionals by engaging world-class faculty to teach cutting-edge material and research that not only has direct application in today's global marketplace, but also provides an analytical framework for addressing future market needs and innovations."
     
Graduates of this new program will receive an executive MBA degree in asset and wealth management from the Tepper School of Business and an executive MBA degree in asset and wealth management from HEC Lausanne, the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Lausanne.

"For me, the course has been a great experience as outstanding professors have challenged me to understand the fundamental truths of finance in the midst of a rapidly changing global economic environment," said David Loesser, president and founder of the Real Estate Planners Group and member of the inaugural class. "The international experience also adds an important element that I have enjoyed as my foreign classmates share their investing and financial workplace experiences. This experience with seasoned finance professionals has proven to be invaluable."

The students in the inaugural class will be coming to the Tepper School of Business for coursework in August 2011, and graduate from the program in spring 2013. Applications for the next class of the program, which will begin in May 2012, are now being accepted.

Detailed information about the program is available online at www.awemba.org.

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