Clayton M. Christensen, Acclaimed Author and Teacher, Dies At 67

BOSTON, MA—Clayton M. Christensen, Harvard Business School’s Kim B. Clark Professor of Business Administration, acclaimed author and teacher, and the world’s foremost authority on disruptive innovation, died on January 23, 2020, surrounded by his loving family. Christensen was 67 years old.

Christensen joined the HBS faculty in 1992. He earned a B.A. with highest honors in economics from Brigham Young University (1975); an M.Phil. in applied econometrics from Oxford University, where he studied as a Rhodes Scholar (1977); and an MBA with High Distinction (1979) and a DBA (1992) from Harvard Business School. He was granted tenure at the School in 1998 and named to a chaired professorship in 2001.

“Clayton Christensen was one of the world’s greatest scholars on innovation and a remarkable person who had a profound influence on his students and colleagues,” says Dean Nitin Nohria. “His research and writings transformed the way aspiring MBAs, industries, and companies look at management. He was a beloved professor and role model whose brilliant teaching and wisdom inspired generations of students and young academics. Most importantly, Clayton had a passion for helping others be their best selves that permeated every aspect of his life. His loss will be felt deeply by many in our community and his legacy will be long-lasting.”