As the first president of EIBA, I have been asked by Danny Van den Bulcke to write a short history of the initial meeting that established the organization. This is probably a timely idea since I have subsequently found that there is almost nothing in writing concerning the events leading to EIBA's origins. As far as I can discover there are no minutes and no notes remaining to document this meeting. Furthermore, the people that were there, although they have not exactly faded away, certainly have a problem recalling precise details. This includes myself. It is unlikely that this will improve with time. Consequently I have asked various colleagues who were there to help me to record a brief history of the founding event that established EIBA. I am particularly indebted to Michel Ghertman, the second president of EIBA, Lars-Gunnar Mattson, the third president, Peter Buckley, Jan Erik Vahlne for their contributions regarding the events surrounding that first EIBA meeting.

Lets begin with the date, the meeting that established EIBA took place December 16-17, 1974. The venue was HEC, at Jouy-en-Josas, outside Paris and the occasion was a conference entitled "Recent Research on the Multinational Corporation". Michel Ghertman, and myself were co-sponsors of the conference. Michel was then a faculty member of HEC. I, on leave from the Manchester Business School, was on the faculty of EIASM (the European Institute for Advanced Studies in Management), located in Brussels.

The 1974 conference was to be the second such conference, Michel and I had sponsored a similar conference on the same subject in 1973, also held at HEC.

The preliminary discussions laying the groundwork for both of these conferences took place at the offices of EIASM, in Brussels. EIASM, then as now, was devoted to the promotion of a European network of academics which would facilitate the tutoring of students working toward a doctorate in management studies. Given its cross border orientation, EIASM soon became involved with the establishment of European based academic research societies such as marketing, finance, accountancy and others.

In planning the 1974 conference, Michel and I discussed the possibility of using such a meeting of academics to form a European association for researchers engaged in the study of international business. At that time, the only academic association which held conferences on this subject was the American based Academy for International Business. The main conferences of this association were for the most part held in the United States. However, AIB also occasionally held regional meetings in Europe.

Both Michel and myself considered the formation of a new European international business association to be a good idea. Feeling optimistic, I took the liberty of having membership cards for the proposed association printed well in advance of the actual conference. These declared the holder to be a member of the "European International Business Association" which, of course, did not yet exist.

The crucial part of the 1974 conference at HEC, at least as regards the history of the founding of EIBA, came during a plenary meeting attended by the participants. As one of the co-sponsors of the conference, I chaired this meeting and raised the issue of founding a separate, European based, association of researchers interested in international business. It quickly became clear that there was considerable disagreement on this point.

An opposing, but as it turned out small, group pointed out that there was already an association, the AIB which served this purpose. The formation of another such association dividing the membership of researchers into this subject could be seen to be counterproductive. Professor Michael Brooke of UMIST, who I believe was the chairman of the local UK branch of AIB, was a strong advocate of this point of view but there were also a good many other voices raised in support.

The other view, forwarded initially by myself and Michel turned about the need for an association focused on European researchers and attuned to European conditions and needs. My personal opinion on this subject had been shaped by an earlier AIB conference I had attended. The conference (in Paris) was both successful and productive. However, it seemed to me that the European researchers and their interests were sometimes overwhelmed by the more numerous researchers from North America.

This was not due to any deliberate intent on the part of the Americans. It came about quite naturally due to their larger number and different situation. This could influence even trivial decisions almost unconsciously. For example, I remember that when it came time to consider the timing of future conferences, the dates were set so as to comply with the American university holiday schedule, which was not the same as the European. Also the major meetings of AIB were usually held in the United States, making it more difficult for European researchers to attend. Perhaps more important was the need for an association which brought together European researchers as a group, fostering the development of a European network with interests which were not always the same as those of the American network. Those who have studied the relations between multinational companies and their overseas affiliates will have no difficulty recognizing this situation and the motives behind the desire for greater independence.

Quite apart from the above, there was nothing to stop anyone from joining both organizations, the American and the European - as in fact, many ultimately did. It soon became evident that many of those at the conference agreed with Michel and myself regarding the desirability of a separate, European based Association. In particular, I remember that there was a considerable Scandinavian representation at the meeting. This appeared to be solidly in favour of the European option. However, the participants at times appeared to be fairly evenly divided. The debate at times became quite heated. Eventually, since I was chairing the meeting, I called for a vote. I was surprised that when it came to it, the conference participants voted heavily in favour of a European Association.

Still in the chair, this seemed to me a good time to finalize the matter. Fortunately I had with me the EIBA membership cards which I had printed prior to the meeting. Taking these out of my pocket I put them on the table and asked those wishing to become members of the new European International Business Association to step forward and sign right there. I have no evidence on exact numbers but it seemed to me that in the final analysis nearly 100% of the participants came forward to sign on as members. Someone made a list of the persons signing and the new EIBA association was formed.

Subsequently there was an election of officers, I was nominated as president, Michel Ghertman was the first to be nominated as vice president. Then Derek Channon of the Manchester Business School suggested that EIBA should have two vice presidents and nominated Lars Gunnar Mattsson of Linkoping University, an EIASM faculty member as vice president as well. We were all elected unopposed.

At a later date, the practice emerged whereby the president of the association would serve for one year with each of the vice presidents rotating to the office of president. The serving president would sponsor the EIBA conference which took place during his\her tenure of office.

The second annual EIBA conference in 1975 was also held in December at HEC, the 1976 one at EIASM in Brussels and the fourth in 1977 became part of the 500th anniversary celebration of the founding of Uppsala University.

Perhaps there are others whose memory will enable them to contribute further to the history of this event. I would welcome such contributions.

Jim Leontiades
Cyprus International Institute of Management
Nicosia, Cyprus