US$160m London Business School Campaign Up and Running: MBA News

By QS Contributor Updated Jun 15, 2014

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Idan Ofer pledges largest MBA Alumni gift at US$40m

US$160m London Business School Campaign Up and Running: MBA News main image

Celebrations surrounding the launch of The Campaign for London Business School (LBS), which will strive to raise in excess of US$160m by 2018, are set to continue over the next few weeks starting with an event in Sao Paulo tonight, September 30.

It all forms part of London Business School’s annual global MBA alumni events, which this year has the school’s ambitious new campaign at its core. 2013’s festivities began in London on September 26, with LBS alumni in a further 70 cities also marking the occasion by getting together.

The campaign itself aims to raise US$160m over the next five years in order to fund the redevelopment of its newly-acquired landmark building in London, Old Marylebone Town Hall, as well as to attract world-class faculty, double its scholarships offering and invest in the latest technology.

Idan Ofer pledges largest MBA Alumni gift at US$40m

The campaign looks to be off to a promising start after the Israeli billionaire, Idan Ofer, one of London Business School’s MBA alumni of the 1980s, pledged US$40m towards the proposed redevelopment of Old Marylebone Town Hall.

In so doing, Idan Ofer has become the architect of the largest single donation made to a UK business school, outstripping the US$16m given by the South African billionaire, Nathan Kirsh, just last month.

"This gift will enable us to convert this iconic London landmark for use as a state-of-the-art teaching and learning facility," said Sir Andrew Likierman, dean of London Business School.

Ofer joined Sir Likierman, at the launch event in London. In addition to hearing from dean Likierman and members of the campaign committee, those in attendance were treated to a classical music performance from the popular choir, The Sixteen.

Dean Likierman has since moved on to Brazil in readiness for his appearance at the MBA alumni event in Sao Paulo. Forthcoming events at which the LBS dean will endeavor to build on the strength of LBS’ global community are to be held in New York, Dubai, Mumbai, Hong Kong and Sydney.

After all, it is the school’s global network of MBA alumni upon which faith in making the target figure of US$160m will surely rest.

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