GISMA Business School appoints Hon. Dr. Ivo Matser as President

Gisma - Business School

GISMA Business School today announced the appointment of Hon. Dr. Ivo Matser to the position of President. He will work closely with Dr. Thorsten Thiel, GISMA’s Managing Director, to support the institution in its expansion and growth.

Ivo Master has almost 30 years of experience in international business and education, holding leading roles in numerous institutions and associations across Europe. He has previously served as the CEO of Twente School of Management, and is currently Vice-Chairman of the institutional accreditations committee for the Foundation for International Business Administration Accreditation (FIBAA) and was CEO at ISM University of Management and Economics.

 

He is also a member of the board of the Academy of Management and Society (ABIS), whilst consulting for companies in various industries holding senior management positions in business. Ivo Matser is a specialist in managing and leading organisational change and the development of private higher education institutions. At GISMA, he will lead the school’s efforts to obtain degree awarding powers and launch its own accredited programmes.

 

Commenting on his new appointment, Ivo Matser said: “GISMA’s ambitions are driven by the purpose of making an impact on the lives and careers of our students, through innovation, internationalisation and change. Joining GISMA to implement this vision is a real honour and pleasure.

 

“I believe in a business school focused on what really matters in the world around us. Giving students the opportunity to grow personally and professionally and bring an entrepreneurial spirit to the institution is what inspires me every day. The degree programmes in business and management we will offer in the near future will help our students make their mark in business as well as in society.”

 

GISMA Business School is part of Global University Systems (GUS), an international network of higher-education institutions. Professor Maurits Van Rooijen, Chief Academic Officer of GUS, said: “We are delighted to welcome Ivo Matser to our team. His long experience in higher education will help us to better position GISMA Business School in a regional and international context, as part of our commitment to further develop our ties with the local labour market whilst connecting to a wider business community.”

 

For more information, please visit:  gisma.com


Related Blogs

Germany’s universities compared: Where international students really study

For this analysis, data from 681 universities with a total of more than 2.8 million students were evaluated, ranging from public universities to private universities of applied sciences. The subject choices of international students stand out in particular: computer science is the most popular field of study, followed by business administration. At some institutions, international
Read More

Germany’s Senior Mayors: Predominantly Male, CDU-Affiliated, and Earning a Minimum of €134,000

Potsdam, 15 September 2025 – With municipal elections in North Rhine-Westphalia scheduled for September, it is an opportune moment to take a closer look at the leadership of Germany’s larger municipalities. This study focuses specifically on Oberbürgermeister (senior mayors) around 350 across Germany’s major cities such as Berlin, Cologne, and Munich. Who holds office, which
Read More

BSIS Award for Gisma University of Applied Sciences: How a Young University Shapes Business, Society, and the Region

Potsdam, 11 August 2025 – Gisma University of Applied Sciences has been awarded the prestigious BSIS Impact Label, an international recognition for business schools that make an impact far beyond teaching and research. The label is awarded by the European higher education network EFMD (European Foundation for Management Development), which, following a comprehensive evaluation process,
Read More

Rising MBA Applications: What It Means for Future Business Leaders 

The AMBA & BGA Application and Enrolment Report 2024 reveals a positive trend in MBA applications and enrolments worldwide. Despite challenges in higher education, the demand for high-quality management education is on the rise. At Gisma University of Applied Sciences, we are committed to meeting this growing demand by offering MBA programmes that prepare future
Read More