PROFESSOR John Harry Dunning, a world-renowned international business scholar and resident of Rotherfield Greys, died on January 29 from pancreatic and liver cancer.
He is survived by his wife Christine and Philip, his son by his former marriage who was brain damaged at birth.
Professor Dunning was born on June 26 1927 at Sandy, Bedfordshire, to John, a Baptist minister, and his wife Anne. He was educated at John Lyons School, Harrow.
After a brief spell in insurance and banking, he joined the navy in 1945 and was commissioned in 1946.
While in the navy, he started studying economics and after demobilisation he entered University College London where he completed a first class BSc (Econ) honours degree in 1951.
Over a scholarly career spanning 56 years, Professor Dunning, who was appointed to the foundation chair of economics at Reading University in 1964, wrote or edited more than 50 books on the interface between multinational companies, national governments and the global economic and political environment.
He was awarded six honorary degrees from Asian and European Universities, including Reading, and last year was appointed an OBE. For more than a decade, he was chairman of the London economic consultancy the Economists Advisory Group. He also advised a wide variety of international organisations and governments.
Professor Dunning was elected president of the Academy of International Business in 1987/89 and of the International Trade Association in 1994. He was an extensive traveller and lectured and participated in conferences in 85 countries. Whenever possible, his wife accompanied him.
Professor Dunning retired from the headship of the department of economics at Reading University in 1987.
For the next decade he spent every other year at Rutgers University in New Jersey, where he built up a strong and influential PhD programme in international business.
Last year the school of business at Reading University merged with the Henley Management College and as part of this merger the John H Dunning Centre for International Business was set up.
When asked what had given him the most fulfilment in his scholarly career, he replied: “Undoubtedly being a mentor to 60 PhD students and many younger faculty seeking to make their name as international business teachers and researchers.”
Professor Dunning had lived with Christine in the Thames Valley since 1968 and in their latest home since 1985.
The couple enjoyed spending as much time as possible at their Cornish home overlooking the sea on the Roseland peninsula, where for many years they enjoyed coastal walks.
Professor Dunning was a father figure, mentor and friend to so many around the world and his passing will be a great loss.
Farewell to Bill — page 10
Published on 09 February 2009
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