News

Omar Aktouf dies at 80 in Montreal - by djoudi

AKTOUF Omar

Aktouf_Omar.jpg

Full Professor of Management

HEC Montréal, Canada

Origins & Education

Born in Algeria in 1944 and deceased on April 2, 2025, at the age of 80, Omar Aktouf was a renowned Algerian intellectual who established himself in Quebec. His impressive academic background included a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and a Postgraduate Diploma (DEA) in Industrial Psychology from the University of Algiers and the Sorbonne, as well as a DPGE from INPED in Algiers. After arriving in Canada, he continued his education by obtaining an MBA at HEC Montréal, followed by a Ph.D. in Administration from the same institution, where he subsequently built most of his career.

Scientific Career

Omar Aktouf's career spanned both Algeria and Canada. Before settling in Canada, he held several important positions in Algerian public companies. From the early 1980s, he taught at several Quebec universities, but it was at HEC Montréal that he conducted the majority of his academic career as a Full Professor of Management. Alongside his teaching and research activities, he worked as a consultant for numerous major companies in Canada (Cascades, Fédération des Caisses Desjardins) as well as in France, Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco.

Omar Aktouf was also a visiting professor at many universities across Europe, Africa, and Latin America, thus extending his influence beyond North American borders. He was a founding member of the Centre for Humanism, Management, and Globalization, a member of the Scientific Council of ATTAC Quebec, and a member of the Scientific Committee of the International Standing Conference on Organizational Symbolism.

His research primarily focused on an in-depth critique of neoliberal economic models and traditional American management approaches, advocating for a more humanistic and ethical approach to management. He relentlessly denounced the commodification of labor and the obsession with profit at the expense of human values.

Distinctions & Recognition

Omar Aktouf's contributions to the field of management were recognized through various awards and distinctions. He notably received the 1987 Research Prize from HEC-University of Montreal. His book "The Ostrich Strategy" was awarded the Prize for the Best French-language Book in Economics and Management in Quebec in 2003. More recently, he was recognized by the National Library and Archives of Quebec and Radio-Canada as one of the "significant personalities in the recent history of Quebec and Canada in the fields of economics and business."

Impact & Influence

Omar Aktouf's influence extends well beyond academia. A key figure in humanistic management, he influenced generations of students and researchers with his incisive analyses and critical thinking. His major works, such as "The Ostrich Strategy: Post-Globalization, Management and Economic Rationality" (2002), "Management Between Tradition and Renewal" (2006), and "Stop the Waste! Ending American-style Management Economics" (2008), have become references in the field of critical management studies.

A staunch defender of social justice, Omar Aktouf was also politically engaged. He ran as a candidate for the Union of Progressive Forces (UFP) at the provincial level and for the New Democratic Party (NDP) at the federal level, achieving a score of approximately 14% in Outremont, historically a Liberal stronghold. He also participated in launching the Manifesto for a United Quebec (Manifeste pour un Québec solidaire).

His passing in April 2025 prompted a wave of tributes both in Algeria and Quebec, where he was considered a bridge between the two cultures. His intellectual legacy continues to inspire those who aspire to more humane management practices and a more just economy.

Further Reading

  • "Halte au gâchis ! En finir avec l'économie management à l'américaine" (Stop the Waste! Ending American-style Management Economics), Liber, 2008.
  • "Le management entre tradition et renouvellement" (Management Between Tradition and Renewal), Gaétan Morin, 2006.
  • "La stratégie de l'autruche. Post-mondialisation, management et rationalité économique" (The Ostrich Strategy: Post-Globalization, Management and Economic Rationality), Eco société, 2002.
  • "Le travail industriel contre l'homme" (Industrial Work Against Man), OPU-SNED, 1986.
  • Omar Aktouf's ResearchGate Profile

Read more...