JEAN-JACQUES DEGROOF - International Scholar and Researcher
In 1983, Belgium native Jean-Jacques Degroof traveled to New York City to study banking at several respected institutions, including the European American Bank, Brown Brothers Harriman, and JP Morgan. One year later, he moved back to Belgium and began working for Générale de Banque (currently BNP Paribas Fortis Bank) as a Credit Analyst. During this time, Jean-Jacques Degroof also collaborated with the Catholic University of Louvain to conduct a survey exploring corporate culture. In 1986, Jean-Jacques Degroof left Générale de Banque to accept a position as a Human Resources Manager for Banque Degroof in Brussels. After working in this capacity for a year, he transferred to the position of a Private Banking Manager.
Working closely with clients, Jean-Jacques Degroof managed portfolios, planned estates, developed products, and created new financial strategies. One of these strategies eventually became the Degroof Global Isis, Belgium’s first balanced investment fund. In 1992, Jean-Jacques Degroof left Banque Degroof to study management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge. Earning a Master’s degree one year later, he utilized his newly acquired business knowledge to become a Director of Mupagemo, the holding company of Bank Degroof. Concurrently, he began to privately invest in a variety of companies, including Alena S.A., an asset management organization; Dbscape S.A., a software firm; the investment management group Ventos S.A.; and through Hub Angel Group, LLC, a Boston-based angel investment company. Currently, Jean-Jacques Degroof acts as a Visiting Professor and Guest Lecturer for various business schools throughout Europe, including the Audencia Nantes School of Management and the École des Mines, both in Nantes, France. He also serves on the editorial board for Journal L’Expansion Entrepreneuriat.
In addition to his Master’s degree, Jean-Jacques Degroof holds a doctorate in Management from MIT, as well as a Master’s degree in Labor Studies from the Catholic University of Louvain’s Institute of Labor Sciences.
Working closely with clients, Jean-Jacques Degroof managed portfolios, planned estates, developed products, and created new financial strategies. One of these strategies eventually became the Degroof Global Isis, Belgium’s first balanced investment fund. In 1992, Jean-Jacques Degroof left Banque Degroof to study management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge. Earning a Master’s degree one year later, he utilized his newly acquired business knowledge to become a Director of Mupagemo, the holding company of Bank Degroof. Concurrently, he began to privately invest in a variety of companies, including Alena S.A., an asset management organization; Dbscape S.A., a software firm; the investment management group Ventos S.A.; and through Hub Angel Group, LLC, a Boston-based angel investment company. Currently, Jean-Jacques Degroof acts as a Visiting Professor and Guest Lecturer for various business schools throughout Europe, including the Audencia Nantes School of Management and the École des Mines, both in Nantes, France. He also serves on the editorial board for Journal L’Expansion Entrepreneuriat.
In addition to his Master’s degree, Jean-Jacques Degroof holds a doctorate in Management from MIT, as well as a Master’s degree in Labor Studies from the Catholic University of Louvain’s Institute of Labor Sciences.