Tribute to the late Professor Stephen Young, Head of Department of Marketing, 1992-1996
Over the course of its half century of existence, the Department of Marketing has served as academic home to several distinguished, internationally renowned scholars. At the topmost tier of these giants was Professor Stephen Young, Emeritus Professor of International Business and the Department’s third Head. Steve sadly passed away on 16 August, 2021, four days short of his 77th birthday.
Professor Stephen Young had a remarkably impactful career at Strathclyde. Appointed Senior Lecturer in 1980, he co-founded the renowned Strathclyde International Business Unit (SIBU) with late Professor Neil Hood, rose to a Chair in 1987, and served as HOD from 1992 to 1996. His influence was much wider as signified, for example, by his leadership of the Academy of International Business UK & Ireland Chapter from 1991 to 1996. These career milestones, however, tell only part of the story of Steve’s outstanding service and humanity.
Professor Young was a first class researcher whose work significantly advanced our understanding of the role of multinational enterprises, subsidiaries and smaller international firms in economic development. His consulting and expert advice to the UNCTAD, World Bank, OECD, ILO, the UK Government, Scottish Enterprise and several other national governments immeasurably influenced public policy across a range of areas.
Steve was also an exceptional and much-loved teacher with a genuine commitment to top quality student experience and superb record of developing successful innovative Master’s programmes. These insightfully designed programmes, exemplified by the flagship MSc International Marketing offering, have produced thousands of graduates over the years and are continuing to thrive.
Professor Young was also a great human being. Long before equality, diversity and inclusion became buzzwords, Steve was walking the talk. For example, he gave a significant chunk of his early twenties working for the Government of Tanzania as part of an international service scheme. Having interacted with Steve during much of the last 25 years, I can confirm that the passion for a better world which drove the young man to East Africa in the late sixties still burned brightly to the end of his working life.
For Stephen Young, it was always about bringing people together and supporting them to optimise their potentials. He was particularly in his element when nurturing talent and passing on all he knew to students, doctoral researchers and colleagues. The long list of successful colleagues around the world supervised or mentored by Steve, the many touching tributes, online and offline, from generations of students and colleagues, and the raft of accolades honouring his service, including the International Business community’s first John Dunning Prize for Lifetime Achievement, all powerfully testify to Professor Young’s great stewardship and enduring legacy.
Thank you Steve for everything, thanks for being a great role model and may your memory remain a blessing.
Professor Kevin Ibeh
One of Steve’s PhD students
Professor of Marketing and International Business and Pro Vice-Chancellor (International)
Birkbeck, University of London.
16 September, 2021
