Rachel BOCQUET and Sandra DUBOULOZ had the pleasure of welcoming Fariborz DAMANPOUR, Emeritus Professor of Management at Rutgers University (Newark, USA). His scientific expertise in management of technological and managerial innovation as well as in organizational change is recognized worldwide. His contribution has already resulted in more than 40 articles published in journals such as the Academy of Management Journal, the Administrative Science Quarterly, the Journal of Management Studies, the Management Science, the Organization Studies and the Strategic Management Journal. His current research focuses on the generation and adoption of managerial innovations, the dynamics of different types of innovations and their effects on the performance of organizations.