Welcoming Sir Oliver Hart: A New Consulting Editor for The British Accounting Review

Dear EBM & Friends of BAR, We are delighted to announce that Sir Oliver Hart, Nobel Laureate in Economics and the Lewis P. and Linda L. Geyser University Professor at Harvard University, has officially joined The British Accounting Review as our Consulting Editor. Sir Oliver's extensive experience in economics and finance issues will bring invaluable expertise and further strengthen our journal's leadership in these critical areas.Sir Oliver's research, in particular his development of the theory of incomplete contracts, has profoundly shaped our understanding of how firms allocate control and decision-making authority in the face of uncertainty. His work has been instrumental in advancing our knowledge of corporate governance, particularly in the integration of ESG considerations - a key focus for both academics and practitioners today. His insights fit perfectly with The British Accounting Review's commitment to exploring the intersection of accounting, finance and ESG.Sir Oliver is at the University of Edinburgh Business School to support and participate in The British Accounting Review's second annual conference on 28-29 August 2024, where he delivered a keynote address this morning. His talk provided a critical perspective on how companies can effectively achieve 'shareholder welfare maximisation' and offered important new insights into our understanding of how to integrate ESG into corporate governance practices.Sir Oliver Hart is a distinguished Fellow of several prestigious institutions, including the Econometric Society, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the British Academy, and the American Finance Association. He is also a member of the National Academy of Sciences and a Distinguished Fellow of the American Economic Association. His contributions to the field have been widely recognized, most recently with his knighthood in the 2023 King’s Birthday Honours List.With Sir Oliver Hart's mentorship, The British Accounting Review will continue its tradition, since its founding in 1969 by the British Accounting & Finance Association, of promoting cutting-edge research in accounting and finance, particularly in the ever-evolving area of ESG. We are confident that his involvement will further strengthen our journal's position as a leading outlet for significant research contributions.Please join us in welcoming Sir Oliver Hart to The British Accounting Review and the British Accounting and Finance Association community. Sincerely,Editorial Office of The British Accounting Review