Jan Starmans Appointed ECGI Research Member

Feb. 14, 2025

He is among 74 new research members recognised for their “exceptional contributions to the field of corporate governance”.

Jan Starmans, an assistant professor of finance at the Stockholm School of Economics and a researcher at the Swedish House of Finance, has been appointed a Research Member of the European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI). 

He is among 74 new members recognized for their “exceptional contributions to the field of corporate governance.” The European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI) is a non-profit, international scientific association that fosters research, discussion, and policy development in corporate governance and stewardship, bridging academia, policymakers, and industry professionals. 

“I am honored to join ECGI as a research member,” said Starmans. “These are fascinating times for corporate governance research as political pressures, climate challenges, and societal polarization reshape organizational behavior.” 

Starmans' research focuses on corporate finance, sustainable finance, contract theory, and search theory. He earned his PhD in Finance from London Business School and currently teaches "Sustainable Finance" in the Master in Finance program and "Theoretical Corporate Finance" in the PhD program. 

His most recent study identifies a new challenge in sustainable investing: when investors prioritize environmental and social goals, it becomes harder to measure and reward managers for improving a company’s financial performance. Paradoxically, this can also create positive effects for society. The analysis further highlights a strong connection between a company’s environmental, social, and governance performance, challenging the idea that these factors are unrelated and should be assessed separately in ESG ratings. 

Starmans joins a distinguished group of SHoF-affiliated ECGI members, including Per Strömberg (SSE/LSE), Ramin Baghai (SSE), Mariassunta Giannetti (SSE), Bo Becker (SSE), and Daniel Metzger (Rotterdam School of Management).