Quick summary: ESCP Business School has secured sixth place globally for its custom executive education programmes in the 2026 Financial Times rankings, marking a significant four place rise driven by its multi campus European model and diverse faculty. The business school performed exceptionally well in programme design and teaching methods, reflecting a growing corporate shift towards treating bespoke leadership training as a critical strategic asset rather than a discretionary expense. These findings carry vital implications for public policy and corporate governance, demonstrating that investing in targeted executive education is essential to equip organizational leaders with the specialized skills needed to navigate rapid technological and geopolitical transformations.
ESCP Business School has secured 6th place worldwide for its custom executive education programmes in the 2026 Financial Times rankings, rising 4 places from the previous year.
The result reflects ESCP’s focus on designing company-specific learning solutions that help organisations navigate technological, geopolitical, and regulatory change. Its 6 campuses across France, the UK, Spain, Italy, Germany, and Poland, combined with a network of over 150 partner schools, give the school a distinctly European and global reach that many single-location institutions cannot match.
Beyond the overall ranking, ESCP performed strongly across several individual criteria
- Third worldwide for faculty diversity, drawn from 220 international research professors
- Fourth worldwide for both partner schools and new skills and learning
- Fifth worldwide for programme design and for teaching methods and materials
ESCP’s open-enrolment executive programmes were separately ranked 18th in Europe and 25th worldwide.
“Achieving 6th place worldwide for custom programmes in the Financial Times rankings is a major milestone for ESCP. It reflects the strength of our academic excellence, our close ties with the corporate world, and our commitment to developing accountable leaders who can thrive in an increasingly complex global environment,” said Professor Léon Laulusa, Executive President and Dean.
Professor Cédric Denis-Remis, Executive Vice President of Executive Education and Corporate Relations and Dean of the ESCP School of Technology, added: “In a world shaped by rapid technological, geopolitical and societal transformations, executive education plays a critical role. This recognition highlights ESCP’s ability to bridge academic insight and real-world impact, equipping leaders to navigate complexity with responsibility and vision.”
The rise comes as executive education is increasingly treated as a strategic investment rather than a discretionary expense. Custom programmes, developed in close partnership with client companies, allow precise alignment with specific organisational goals, from digital transformation to sustainability leadership and inclusive management practices.
The Financial Times rankings evaluates programme design, teaching quality, faculty diversity, and post-course outcomes based on surveys of participating organisations.