ESSEC Business School has launched a new fully online Executive Master in Artificial Intelligence, aimed at experienced professionals seeking a blend of strategic management and specialist AI expertise as the technology moves further into core business decision-making.
The 18-month structure pairs 12 months of coursework with a further six months for a professional thesis. The first cohort is due to begin in September 2026, with additional start points in March and September. The programme will be delivered entirely in English and online, combining self-paced study with weekly live sessions, academic coaching, and peer collaboration so participants can continue working while enrolled.
ESSEC positions the course as a response to a broader executive challenge: how to turn AI investment into measurable business value while managing questions around regulation, bias, automation, and organisational change. Thomas Huber, the Academic Director of the Executive Master in Artificial Intelligence, said: “AI is no longer a purely technical domain. It is a core leadership competence. Executives must understand both its strategic potential and its societal implications.”
The school is also emphasising international reach. Ranked ninth worldwide for Executive Education by the Financial Times, ESSEC said the programme will include an optional international residency at ESSEC Asia-Pacific in Singapore, giving participants exposure to one of the world’s most active innovation ecosystems. Further details are available on the programme page.
Julien Malaurent, the Executive Vice President of ESSEC, said: “The rise of AI is fundamentally changing how organisations perceive and manage their environments, make decisions, and create value. This transformation raises fundamental and even existential questions. The Executive Master in Artificial Intelligence is built to equip experienced professionals to navigate the managerial challenges AI presents and leverage opportunities for efficiency, growth, and innovation.”
The launch arrives as executive education providers compete to define what senior-level AI literacy should look like. ESSEC’s offer is deliberately broad in scope, focusing less on narrow technical training and more on the strategic, managerial, and governance capabilities needed to lead AI adoption inside complex organisations.
That emphasis on flexibility, applied leadership, and international exposure is likely to matter as employers look for executives who can manage AI as an operational and commercial issue, rather than treating it as a standalone technical specialism.
