About Yves
Prof. dr. Yves Van Vaerenbergh is an award-winning Professor of Marketing at KU Leuven, specialized in Customer Experience and Service Management. His research explores multiple dimensions of customer experience and customer service and has been published in leading international academic journals. He has received more than 20 awards for research, teaching, and service. He is also an Associate Editor at Journal of Service Research, one of the top journals in management.
In addition, Yves regularly delivers keynotes and executive talks around the world. He is co-founder and strategy advisor at KALEPA, a KU Leuven spin-off. He is also involved in executive education at Danish Technical University (DTU, Copenhagen).
Current and past positions
Current positions
2021-current: Professor of Marketing, KU Leuven
2020-current: Co-founder & Strategy Advisor, KALEPA
2023-current: Associate Editor, Journal of Service Research
2025-current: Owner, Mount Fern (CommV)
Past positions
2019-2021: Cross-campus Department Chair, Marketing
2018-2021: Associate Professor of Marketing, KU Leuven
2016-2019: Department Chair, campus Brussels, Marketing
2014-2018: Assistant Professor of Marketing, KU Leuven
2012-2014: Assistant Professor of Marketing, UC Brussels
2007-2012: Teaching & Research Assistant, UC Ghent
Teaching
Yves Van Vaerenbergh teaches Customer Experience Management, Strategic Brand Management, and Marketing Analytics at KU Leuven.
He also offers an executive course on Marketing Management at the Danish University of Technology (DTU) and teaches marketing basics for various social profit organizations.
Previously, Yves taught a range of courses, including Services Marketing, Marketing Analytics, B2B Marketing, and International Marketing, at institutions in Belgium and abroad.
He is always open to teaching new executive courses.
Education
- PhD in Applied Economics, Ghent University (2012, no grades awarded)
- Msc. in Quantitative Analysis for the Social Sciences, KU Leuven (2010, Summa cum laude)
- Licentiaat (Master) in Business Administration, Vlekho Business School (2007, Magna cum laude)
- Bachelor in Business Management, Marketing, KaHo Sint-Lieven (2005, Cum laude)
Awards
Research Awards
2022 Emerging Service Scholar Award, AMA SERVSIG
Best Reviewer Awards
2025 – Journal of Service Theory and Practice
2023 – Journal of Service Research
2021 – Journal of Service Research (finalist)
2015 – Journal of Service Management
2013 – Managing Service Quality (Now JOSTP)
Best Paper Awards
2020 – Journal of Service Research
2015 – Managing Service Quality (finalist)
2015 – Journal of Service Research (finalist)
2014 – Managing Service Quality
Teaching Awards
2021 – Best Teacher Recognition, FEB KU Leuven
2020 – Best Teacher Recognition, FEB KU Leuven
Conference Paper Awards
Best conference paper awards or finalist at QUIS19 (2025), ENESER (2024), La Londe Conference in Service Management (2022, 2016, 2014), Italian Marketing Society (2019, Service Marketing Track), EMAC (2012, based on a doctoral dissertation), ICORIA (2010)
