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Carlos Martin-Rios

Dr Carlos Martin-Rios

Dr Carlos Martin-Rios

Associate Professor

Expertise

  • Organizational paradox & transformation in service firms
  • Sustainable service and business-model innovation
  • Transformational technologies and sustainability
  • Circular transitions in food systems
  • Food waste innovation in hospitality and foodservices
  • Inter-firm collaboration & knowledge networks

Biography

Carlos Martin-Rios (PhD, Rutgers University) is Associate Professor of Management. He holds Master’s degrees in Management, Strategic Human Resource Management, and Statistics, and earned his PhD in Management and Labor Relations from Rutgers University (USA). Prior to joining EHL, he held academic appointments at Rutgers University, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (Spain), and the University of Maine (USA), and served as Visiting Professor at the Universidad de Antioquia (Colombia) and Taylor's University (Malaysia).

Dr. Martin-Rios has authored or co-authored over 65 peer-reviewed journal articles, alongside numerous professional publications, book chapters, and conference contributions. His research is situated at the intersection of sustainability and innovation management, with a focus on applying management theories to address grand challenges, particularly within the food value chain. He has led and participated in competitive national and international research projects totaling over CHF 1 million in funding. In parallel, he advises startups and established organizations on sustainability-driven innovation and strategic transformation.

Awards

Winner of the Best Research Award (2019) and two times finalist EHL Best Researcher Award (2016, 2017); Winner of the Teaching Award, Innovation in Teaching Methods, University Carlos III Madrid, Spain (2011, 2010 & 2008); Winner of Harvard University Grant by Real Colegio Complutense at Harvard University (2009); Dissertation Award Finalist: Industry Study Best Dissertation Award, Sloan Business School, MIT (USA) (2008); Best PhD Research Award, Rutgers University Research Council (2006) 

Education

PhD in Management and Labor Relations, Rutgers University New Jersey

Courses Taught

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN INTERNATIONAL HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT
• Leadership and Organizational Behavior
• Sustainability transitions and Innovation in business

Teaching Location

EHL Campus Lausanne

Journal publications

Martin-Rios, C., Ruiz-Molina, M. E., Filimonau, V., & Rogenhofer, J. B. (Forthcoming). Food waste as a sustainability challenge: educational strategies for aligning attitudes and behaviors. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-10-2024-0712

Sezerel, H., Filimonau, V., & Martin-Rios, C. (2025). Stay mindful when going with the flow: Enhancing chefs’ subjective well-being and improving their food waste management practices. Hospitality & Society, 15(3), 271-294. https://doi.org/10.1386/hosp_00095_1

Martin-Rios, C. (2025). Sustainability transitions in small, entrepreneurial food services through systems innovation. Journal of the International Council for Small Business, 6(1), 99-113. https://doi.org/10.1080/26437015.2024.2396077

Martin-Rios, C., Rogenhofer, J., Ruiz-Molina, M. E., & Chan, E. K. (2025). Young professionals' attitudes toward food waste: A global study on awareness, behavior, and regional differences. International Journal of Gastronomy and Food Science, 39, 101110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijgfs.2025.101110

Fernandez, S., Gössling, S., Martin-Rios, C., Fointiat, V., Pasamar, S., Isaac, R., & Lunde, M. (2024). To tip or not to tip? Explaining tipping behavior in restaurants with service-inclusive pricing. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 117, 103640. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2023.103640

Montesdeoca Calderon, M.G., Gil-Saura, I., Ruiz-Molina, M.-E., & Martin-Rios, C. (2024). Unveiling sustainable service innovations: exploring segmentation patterns in Ecuadorian restaurant sector. British Food Journal, 126(1), 471-488. https://doi.org/10.1108/BFJ-01-2023-0023

Montesdeoca-Calderón, M.-G., Gil-Saura, I., Ruiz-Molina, M.-E., & Martin-Rios, C. (2024). Tackling food waste management: Professional training in the public interest. International Journal of Gastronomy and Food Science, 35, 100863. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijgfs.2023.100863

Martin-Rios, C., Rogenhofer, J., & Sandoval, M. (2023). The true cost of food waste: Tackling the managerial challenges of the food supply chain. Trends in Food Science and Technology, 131, 190-195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tifs.2022.12.005

Martin-Rios, C., Erhardt, N., & Manev, I. (2022). Interfirm collaboration for knowledge resources interaction among small innovative firms. Journal of Business Research, 153, 206-215. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2022.08.024

Erhardt, N., Martin-Rios, C., Bolton, J., & Luth, M. (2022). Doing Well by Creating Economic Value through Social Values among Craft Beer Breweries: A Case Study in Responsible Innovation and Growth. Sustainability, 14(5), 2826. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14052826

Martin-Rios, C., Arboleya, J. C., Bolton, J., & Erhardt, N. (2022). Editorial: Sustainable Food Waste Management. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 6, 885250. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2022.885250

Martin-Ríos, C., Demen Meier, C., & Pasamar, S. (2022). Sustainable waste management solutions for the foodservice industry: A Delphi study. Waste Management & Research, 40(9), 1412-1423. https://doi.org/10.1177/0734242X221079306

Pougnet, S., Martin-Rios, C., & Pasamar, S. (2022). Keg wine technology as a service innovation for sustainability in the foodservice industry. Journal of Cleaner Production, 360, 132145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.132145

Martin-Rios, C., Poretti, C., & Derchi, G.-B. (2021). Three Anchoring Managerial Mechanisms to Embed Sustainability in Service Organizations. Sustainability, 14(1), 265. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14010265

Martin-Rios, C., Hofmann, A., & Mackenzie, N. (2021). Sustainability-Oriented Innovations in Food Waste Management Technology. Sustainability, 13(1), 210. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13010210

Gössling, S., Fernandez, S., Martin-Rios, C., Reyes, S. P., Fointiat, V., Isaac, R. K., & Lunde, M. (2021). Restaurant tipping in Europe: a comparative assessment. Current issues in tourism, 24(6), 811-823. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2020.1749244

Martin-Rios, C., Zizka, L., Varga, P., & Pasamar, S. (2020). KITRO: Technology solutions to reduce food waste in Asia-Pacific hospitality and restaurants. Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research, 25(10), 1128-1135. https://doi.org/10.1080/10941665.2020.1773513

Raub, S., & Martin-Rios, C. (2019). “Think sustainable, act local” – a stakeholder-filter-model for translating SDGs into sustainability initiatives with local impact. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 31(6), 2428-2447. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-06-2018-0453

Martin-Rios, C., & Ciobanu, T. (2019). Hospitality innovation strategies: An analysis of success factors and challenges. Tourism Management, 70, 218-229. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2018.08.018

Erhardt, N., Martin-Rios, C., & Chan, E. (2019). Value co-creation in sport entertainment between internal and external stakeholders. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 31(11), 4192-4210. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-03-2018-0244

Gössling, S., Zeiss, H., Hall, C.M., Martin-Rios, C., Ram, Y., & Grøtte, I.P. (2019). A cross-country comparison of accommodation manager perspectives on online review manipulation. Current Issues in Tourism, 22(14), 1744-1763. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2018.1455171

Martin-Rios, C., Parga-Dans, E., & Pasamar, S. (2019). Innovation strategies and complementarity between innovation activities: the case of commercial archaeological firms. Service Business, 13(4), 695-713. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11628-019-00401-9

Martin-Rios, C., Demen-Meier, C., Gössling, S., & Cornuz, C. (2018). Food waste management innovations in the foodservice industry. Waste Management, 79, 196-206. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2018.07.033

Martin-Rios, C., & Pasamar, S. (2018). Service innovation in times of economic crisis: The strategic adaptation activities of the top EU service firms. R&D Management, 48(2), 195-209. https://doi.org/10.1111/radm.12276

Martin-Rios C. (2018). Organizational control rationales in knowledge-intensive organizations: An integrative review of emerging trends. Journal of Public Affairs, 18(1), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1002/pa.1695

Septiem, M., & Martin-Rios, C. (2017). Innovative human resource management: The salience of inter-firm knowledge networks. Journal of Technology Management & Innovation, 12(3), 96-107. http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0718-27242017000300010

Martin-Rios, C., & Erhardt, N. (2017). Small business activity and knowledge exchange in informal interfirm networks. International Small Business Journal, 35(3), 285-305. https://doi.org/10.1177/0266242616667540

Martin-Rios, C., Pougnet, S., & Nogareda, A.M. (2017). Teaching HRM in contemporary hospitality management: A case study drawing on HR analytics and big data analysis. Journal of Teaching in Travel and Tourism, 17(1), 34-54. https://doi.org/10.1080/15313220.2016.1276874

Erhardt, N., Martin-Rios, C., & Heckscher, C. (2016). Am I doing the right thing? Unpacking workplace rituals as mechanisms for strong organizational culture. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 59, 31-41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2016.08.006

Erhardt, N., & Martin-Rios, C. (2016). Knowledge Management Systems in Sports: The Role of Organizational Structure, Tacit and Explicit Knowledge. Journal of Information and Knowledge Management, 15(2), 1650023. https://doi.org/10.1142/S0219649216500234

Rubinstein, S., Martin-Rios, C., Erhardt, N., Hoffer-Gittell, J., & George V.P. (2016). Organizational responses to uncertainty in the airline industry: Changes in patterns of communication networks. Journal of Air Transport Management, 57, 217-227. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jairtraman.2016.07.021

Martin-Rios, C. (2016). Sensemaking of organizational innovation and change in public research organizations. International Journal of Organizational Analysis, 24(3), 516-531. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOA-07-2014-0784

Erhardt, N., Gibbs, J., Martin-Rios, C., & Sherblom, J.C. (2016). Exploring affordances of email for team learning over time. Small Group Research, 47(3), 243-278. https://doi.org/10.1177/1046496416635823

Martin-Rios, C. (2016). Innovative management control systems in knowledge work: A middle manager perspective. Journal of Management Control, 27, 181-204. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00187-015-0228-8

Martin-Rios, C., & Parga, E. (2016). Service response to economic decline: Management innovation as enabler of organizational renewal. Journal of Business Research, 69(8), 2890-2900. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2015.12.058

Martin-Rios, C., & Parga, E. (2016). The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese: Non-technological innovation in creative industries. Creativity and Innovation Management, 25(1), 6-17. https://doi.org/10.1111/caim.12131

Martin-Rios, C. (2014). Why do firms seek to share human resource management knowledge? The importance of inter-firm networks. Journal of Business Research, 67(2), 190-199. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2012.10.004

Heckscher, C. & Martin-Rios, C. (2013). Looking back, moving forward: Toward collaborative universities. Journal of Management Inquiry, 22(1), 136-139. https://doi.org/10.1177/1056492612463652