Passing of Omar Aktouf
April 4, 2025
The members of the HEC Montréal community were saddened to learn of the passing of Omar Aktouf on April 2, 2025. A professor in the Department of Management and an engaged thinker, he dedicated over four decades to teaching and research at the School.
Omar Aktouf made substantial contributions to the fields of management and economics through the publication of a large number of books and papers.
His career trajectory
Omar Aktouf was born in Algeria in 1944. He obtained a degree in psychology and a DEA in industrial psychology from the University of Algiers and the Sorbonne. He also earned an MBA and a doctorate in administration from HEC Montréal. Prior to moving to Canada, he held leadership positions in various public enterprises in Algeria.
Omar Aktouf was a fervent advocate of social justice and a critic of neoliberal economic models. Some of his books have reflected his stance on more humanistic and responsible management, including Halte au gâchis ! En finir avec l’économie-management à l’américaine and La stratégie de l’autruche. Post-mondialisation, management et rationalité économique (Best French Canada Business Book Award for 2003).
His commitment and convictions also led him to run for office twice: for the Union des forces progressistes (UFP), at the provincial level, and for the New Democratic Party (NDP), at the federal level.