London Business School Ranks First Globally in FT Executive Education and Launches Programmes in Riyadh

London Business School (LBS) has announced the launch of its first Executive Education open programmes in Riyadh, further deepening its presence in the Gulf region. This milestone comes as the school celebrates its top global ranking in the 2025 Financial Times Executive Education Open Programmes, where it secured first place worldwide and second place globally in Custom Executive Education.

Set to commence in the 2025–2026 academic year, the Riyadh-based programmes aim to support Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 by fostering innovation, leadership, and economic diversification. The launch follows LBS's earlier announcement to establish a dedicated executive office in Riyadh, which will serve as a hub for advancing leadership development and human capital in the region.

Driving Transformation Through Executive Education

LBS will offer three in-person open programmes designed to meet the Kingdom’s evolving leadership needs:

• Women in Leadership: Focused on empowering female executives and advancing gender inclusion in the workforce.

• Leading Teams for Emerging Leaders: Tailored for rising professionals to master team-building and performance strategies.

• Next Level Leadership: Targeted at senior executives, this programme enhances skills for navigating complexity and leading transformative change.

The move comes amid a 250% increase in participation by Saudi executives in LBS’s global open enrolment programmes over the past four years—a sign of strong regional demand for world-class executive education.

Commitment to the Gulf Region

Helen Kerkentzes, Associate Dean of Executive Education and General Manager of LBS’s Riyadh office, remarked:

“Launching our open programmes in Riyadh strengthens our commitment to supporting leaders and working more closely with our partners in Saudi Arabia and the wider region.”

Professor Florin Vasvari, Executive Dean of Executive Education, added:

“We are proud to support the human capital behind the Kingdom’s transformation, driven by Vision 2030. These programmes will equip leaders with the skills and global perspective to succeed in a rapidly changing world.”

Global Recognition

The latest Financial Times Executive Education Rankings underscore LBS’s continued excellence:

• #1 Worldwide in Open Executive Education Programmes

• #2 Worldwide in Custom Executive Education Programmes

• Ranked #1 for Quality of Participants and #1 for New Skills & Learning

LBS is the only business school in 2025 to be ranked in the top three globally for both Open and Custom Executive Education programmes.

With its new Riyadh office and established campus in Dubai, London Business School is strategically expanding its footprint in the Gulf. The school remains committed to empowering organisations and leaders across the region with forward-thinking, impactful executive education aligned with national growth agendas.