Bjorn Storim

Bjorn Storim (Class of 2003)

Bjorn Storim is CEO of BNY Mellon‘s European Bank and a proud member of the inaugural TRUM Class of 2003 who are  celebrating 20 years since they became graduates of the TRIUM Global EMBA. Bjorn and his fellow classmates are reuniting in London this week and they are joining our newest cohort, the Class of 2025 this Friday for the final day of Module 1 where they will hear from TRIUM LSE Professor Mick Cox on International Politics in the Age of Uncertainty.

Here, Bjorn reflects on the last 20 years since he graduated and why TRIUM has remained close to his heart and continues to be an influence on the way he does business.

It’s 20 years since you graduated from TRIUM, since then you have established yourself in a number of C-Suite positions including COO, CFO and CRO (leadership roles). Do you recall key moments when your TRIUM experience influenced your career path or decisions you made as a leader?

I could not pinpoint a singular event, but I feel strongly that TRIUM helped shaping my approach of being open to new situations, building option value and increasing employability in the long term.

Why did you choose TRIUM and what were your expectations? Did you achieve your goals?

“It‘s a big world. Someone has to run it.“ – that‘s certainly how I felt in 2001 when I applied. I was looking for a first class Executive MBA by highly esteemed academic institutions. I was driven by learning more outside banking and gain a broader approach across business, economics and politics in society – and that‘s exactly what I got.

How has an MBA from TRIUM set you apart from your colleagues and peers?

Firstly, I got a much broader approach to business compared to most bankers. Secondly, the international experience and global network cannot be found anywhere else.

What is your favourite TRIUM memory?

Many, many – but here are two, anecdotally:

Firstly, studying accounting and valuation at NYU Stern at precisely the time of WorldCom and Enron defaults, showed the relevance of the subject – and it was fun, seeing our professors on the morning news that we later had in class that day!

Secondly, the graduation: My parents could attend and get to know my class – and I brought along my by that time new girlfriend. By now we‘ve been happily married for 18 years, have three children with an international upbringing, who got to know already many of my fellow classmates. Andrea still jokes, TRIUM was all about party, as she saw the final weeks only…

How have you stayed connected to your class and the TRIUM community?

Apart from Jim Lennox, who sadly passed away soon after graduation, everyone else is alive and kicking. I am in contact with way more than half of us. We visit each other during holidays and business trips, and I certainly speak to all of them on their birthdays.

You and your classmates are coming back to the TRIUM classroom, joining our newest TRIUM Class of 2025. What are you looking forward to the most?

Time together, meeting my fellow classmates of the TRIUM class of 2003 again and getting to know the TRIUM class of 2023 by sitting in lectures together at LSE.

TRIUM was the first EMBA of its kind and you were part TRIUM’s very first cohort, discussing key topics around international relations and business in 2001, when these were headline news due to recent events at the time. In your view,  what are the key topics that our current and future cohorts should be discussing?

De-globalisation, Slow-balisation, economic autarchy of nation states as opposed to internationally integrated trade finance chains, Global South. Generative artificial intelligence (AI) and expected effect on growth and labour markets

I am en route to Brussels, will then be at Eurofi in Santiago de Compostela throughout the week and hit ground in London on Thursday. I cannot tell you how much I’m looking forward to being at LSE again!

I am staying with one fellow classmate in the East India Club, the headquarters of what was once the company with the largest market cap of the world. A company that not just did business, but also shaped international politics in a big way. What would fit better to TRIUM, linking economics and politics in society?