Peter Björk, Prefect

Johanna Gummerus, Director

Kristina Heinonen, Previous director

Maria Holmlund-Rytkönen, Representative for professors

Carlos Diaz Ruiz, Representative for non-professors

Stefan Burggraf, Representative for PhD students

CERS is one of the leading institutions for research within services and a founding member of the Nordic School of Thought within Marketing. The center was founded in 1994 by Professor Emeritus Christian Grönroos and set up in cooperation with professors Martin Lindell, Sören Kock, Tore Strandvik, and Kaj Storbacka.

Earlier this year, in 2023, Professor Johanna Gummerus was appointed as the Director for CERS, with a commitment to honoring CERS’ legacy while envisioning the future of the research centre.

“I am honored to serve in this role and intend to continue building on the heritage of CERS as a center with expertise in service research. I look forward to working with the great team of colleagues we have at CERS and the CERS board. Our first focus areas will be strategy renewal and supporting our staff in securing higher levels of external funding”
Johanna Gummerus, Director
“I am honored to serve in this role and intend to continue building on the heritage of CERS as a center with expertise in service research. I look forward to working with the great team of colleagues we have at CERS and the CERS board. Our first focus areas will be strategy renewal and supporting our staff in securing higher levels of external funding”
Johanna Gummerus, Director
“I am honored to serve in this role and intend to continue building on the heritage of CERS as a center with expertise in service research. I look forward to working with the great team of colleagues we have at CERS and the CERS board. Our first focus areas will be strategy renewal and supporting our staff in securing higher levels of external funding”
Johanna Gummerus, Director
“I am honored to serve in this role and intend to continue building on the heritage of CERS as a center with expertise in service research. I look forward to working with the great team of colleagues we have at CERS and the CERS board. Our first focus areas will be strategy renewal and supporting our staff in securing higher levels of external funding”
Johanna Gummerus, Director

In the beginning of next year, 2024, a workshop led by Associate Professor Robert Ciuchita to brainstorm the new strategy will be open to all CERS faculty members and Ph.D. students.

Assistant Professor Carlos Diaz Ruis, representing non-professors, will play an active role in shaping CERS’s profile and maintaining a strong social media presence.

“It is essential to build upon our legacy to renew the research center for current challenges”
Carlos Diaz Ruis, Representative for non-professors

For more information about CERS and its activities, please visit the center’s website at

https://www.hanken.fi/en/departments-centres/department-marketing/cers