July 2 – The partnership between SDA Bocconi School of Management and IBM has been going on for two years to promote professional training and dissemination in management, distribution and commercial enterprises. The Channel & Retail Academy, the SDA Bocconi international institute, thanks to the main sponsorship of IBM and the support of other companies, will continue its activities in 2013-14 and, in addition to a new course on the use of new technologies, it will also stop in Mumbai in December. During the training offered, the Academy will put forth again, in English, two short but intensive programs titled “The Marketing in You” and “Go to Market”, respectively for senior executives and managers of manufacturing companies and distribution. A third course, “New Technologies in Retail”, will be dedicated to digital marketing. The longer duration program, “Retail Manager,” nurtures young talents and high-potential managers on the dynamics and management of distribution channels. The program, intended for Indian and international managers interested in learning about the local market and its opportunities, will take place at the MISB Bocconi (Mumbai International School of Business) opened last year. “IBM is committed, alongside the best universities in the world, to create useful synergies in the innovation process of the countries in which we operate – says Nicola Ciniero, president and CEO of IBM Italy – The results obtained in recent years with the activities of the Channel & Retail Academy of SDA Bocconi confirm that Retail is fast-evolving affecting various sectors, from banks to utilities, distribution, telephony. Also, it is clear that precious resources and talents need room to grow, and we are providing them with a valuable network of international expertise.” The Academy will further develop knowledge through research and meetings, leveraging synergies with long active initiatives at SDA Bocconi, such as the Community Marketing and Retailing Observatory, which develops cutting-edge research on retail and distribution channels.