Carmen Abril Barrie

Expert in Innovation and Branding, Professor Carmen Abril’s combines academic and practitioner skills.

Carmen holds a PhD in Economic and Business Science “cum laude” from the Complutense University. She also holds a Master in Economy and Business Administration from IESE and a degree in Mathematics from the Complutense University. Current research focus is on Innovation Management and Brand equity.

Her practitioner career has been largely forged at Pepsico Beverages where she held the position of Marketing Vice President for Spain and Greece. She was also member of the “Pepsico Beverages International Marketing Committe”. Professor Abril began her professional career in Gillette and later in Unilever, where she was part of the “European Personal Care Innovation Center”.

Professor Abril is responsible at IE for different marketing and innovation courses at the International MBA and at the Executive Master in Commercial management having led “Marketing in China” seminars in Shanghai and “Innovation management and creativity seminar” in Milan. She also is professor at Complutense University in the Economics and Business Faculty where she teaches undergraduate and PhD courses.

Professor Abril has been visiting professor at some international universities like the Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (Beijing), University of Amsterdam, Fudan University (Shanghai), Università La Sapienza (Rome), Wien University and University of Valencia among others.

She is founder and partner of “marketingthinking” consulting company where she has worked for Mahou-San Miguel, Plumrose, Heineken, Disney, Carrefour, Philips, and Volvo in Europe, China and Latinamerica.

She has published numerous articles in top academic journals and participated in several international conferences and meetings as keynote speaker.

During her career, Carmen has received numerous awards, including “Marketer of the Year” from  “Advertising Age” magazine and the “ Best Advertiser Award” from the Spanish Advertising Agencies Association. Furthermore, she received several “Grand Prix” and “Lions” at the Cannes Advertising Festival and at the Spanish Advertising Festival in San Sebastián. She has also been awarded with the “Pepsico Internacional Marketing Award”, “Pepsico  High Performance Leadership and Innovation  Award” as well as IE teaching recognition award in 2007 and 2009.

Professor Abril is fluent in English, Italian and French.

Corporate Experience

• Marketing Vice President for Spain and Greece. Pepsico

• Member of the “European Personal Care Innovation Center”. Unilever

• Marketing. Gillette

Academic Experience

• Responsible for different marketing and innovation courses at the International MBA and at the Executive Master in Commercial. IE Madrid (Spain)

• Professor. Undergraduate and PhD courses. Economics and Business Faculty. Complutense University of Madrid

• Visiting professor at some international universities like the Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (Beijing), University of Amsterdam, Fudan University (Shanghai), Università La Sapienza (Rome), Wien University and Universidad de Valencia, among others

Academic Background

• PhD in Economic and Business Science “cum laude” from the Complutense University of Madrid (Spain)

• Master in Economy and Business Administration from IESE

• Degree in Mathematics from the Complutense University of Madrid (Spain)

Other information of interest

• Professor Abril is fluent in English, Italian and French.

• Marketer of the Year” from “Advertising Age”

• “Best Advertiser Award” from the Spanish Advertising Agencies Association

• “Grand Prix” and “Lions”. Cannes Advertising Festival and at the Spanish Advertising Festival in San Sebastián

• High Performance Leadership and Innovation Award” as well as IE teaching recognition award in 2007 and 2009