Garvin Funds Will Spearhead Creation of New Global Research Initiative
GLENDALE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE via COLLEGIATE PRESSWIRE)--Feb. 5, 2007--The Thunderbird Board of Trustees announced today that as part of its Thunderbird 2010 strategic plan, the School is changing its name to Thunderbird School of Global Management.
Previously known as Thunderbird, the Garvin School of International Management, the School recently conducted a strategic review which proposed the name change. The naming recommendation was made in order to improve the school's marketing and brand recognition and to allow the School to seize new growth opportunities under the Thunderbird 2010 vision. The review concluded that the new name would allow the School to better leverage its brand recognition and trio of No. 1 rankings in "international business" (from the Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, and U.S. News and World Report) as it expands its offerings around the world.
The new name will focus the School's official name on its widely recognized brand and historic name, Thunderbird. "Our strategic review was unequivocal in concluding that we should focus on 'Thunderbird' as our core brand," said Thunderbird president Angel Cabrera. "We also concluded that 'global' was a more accurate descriptor of our unique expertise in developing the broad cross-cultural mindset that is critical to success in today's global economy."
"Thunderbird 2010 lays out an exciting array of strategic opportunities for the School," said Mr. David Roberts, chairman of the board of trustees. "Over the past year, our top rankings, our new program offerings, and our overall positive momentum have generated further options. The new naming structure will more easily accommodate additional major gifts to support the centers, programs, and initiatives that we have identified as part of our growth strategy. The Garvins' gracious agreement to this change and their full support of the school's long-term strategic goals says a lot about their generosity and dedication to Thunderbird."
Thunderbird alumnus and Trustee Samuel S. Garvin '88, for whom the school was named after he and his wife Rita pledged $60 million in 2004, endorsed the naming decision, saying: "I wholeheartedly support the results of the strategic review, which should improve the School's name recognition and help Thunderbird raise funds for future strategic initiatives. Thunderbird needs to be aggressive and capitalize on its position as the leader in global management education. I encourage other donors who will support Thunderbird through investments in this top-flight institution."
Thunderbird also announced that the Garvin name will now be used for a newly-established position, The Garvin Distinguished Professor of Global Management Research, which will add to the already existing Garvin Center of Cultures and Languages of International Management and the Garvin Professorship of Entrepreneurship. The new position will allow Thunderbird to launch the Research and Knowledge Network, a new strategic unit established by the Thunderbird 2010 plan, that will provide new insights in global management and cutting-edge breakthrough research in collaboration with leading businesses from around the world.
"I am pleased to be able to help Thunderbird launch the research network, a key strategic initiative which will enhance Thunderbird's osition as a source of new, breakthrough knowledge in global business," said Sam Garvin.
About Thunderbird
In 1946, Thunderbird was founded as the first graduate management school focused exclusively on global business. It is regarded as the world's leading institution in the education of global managers and has operations in the United States, Europe, Latin America, Russia and Asia. Ranked No. 1 in international business by U.S. News and World Report, the Wall Street Journal survey of corporate recruiters, and the Financial Times, Thunderbird is dedicated to educating global leaders who create sustainable prosperity worldwide. The school's programs facilitate the development of the global mindset which is critical to managing effectively in different social, economic and political environments. More than 38,000 students have graduated from Thunderbird, and its alumni live and work in more than 140 countries. For more about Thunderbird, please visit: www.thunderbird.edu.
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