Dr Alessandro Merendino

Profile

Dr Alessandro Merendino is a lecturer in Accounting and a qualified chartered accountant both in Italy and in the UK. With expertise in corporate governance, he is interested in the intricacies of board dynamics and the strategic decision-making processes of directors. His research focus extends to the integration of digital technologies, such as big data and artificial intelligence, in shaping strategic decisions and digital strategies.

Passionate about enhancing the intersection of technology and sustainability, Dr. Merendino actively supports directors in leveraging technology for improved decision-making while aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).

He channels his enthusiasm for disrupting business mindsets for good through innovative, art-based approaches. By bridging the gap between research and creative thinking, Dr. Merendino envisions positive transformations in the corporate landscape.

Teaching

Dr. Alessandro Merendino brings a wealth of international teaching experience to diverse academic levels, spanning undergraduate, postgraduate, and executive education. His fervent commitment is centred around catalysing transformative learning experiences that leave a lasting impact on students.

Dr. Merendino's approach is characterised by innovation, adaptability, and a genuine concern for the holistic development of his students. By seamlessly integrating theory with practical applications, he wants to equip learners with the knowledge, skills and mindset needed to thrive in an ever-evolving global landscape.

Research

Publications

• Merendino et al. (2025). Sent to Coventry! Creatively (Re)Capturing Accounting’s Purpose. Accounting, Auditing and Accountability Journal, in press
• McGuigan, N., Cho, C., Derichs, D., Merendino, A. et al. (2025). When ‘Place’ Becomes an Educator: Hacking the Use of Physical Spaces in Accounting. Accounting Forum, in press
• Roffia & Merendino (2025). Corporate Governance Codes and Corporate Sustainability in Europe. SIDREA Conference Journal, in press.
• Meadows, M., Merendino, A., & O’Brien (2025). In the Thick of It: Scenario Planning at a Time of Crisis. In Improving and Enhancing Scenario Planning, Edward Elgar, in press.
• Meadows, M., Merendino, A., Dibb, S., Garcia-Perez, A., Hinton, M., Papagiannidis, S., Pappas, I., & Wang, H. (2023). Tension in the data environment: How organisations can meet the challenge. In Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 175. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2021.121315
• Merendino, Timms, J. and Bek, D. (2021) From the Decoupling Strategy to the legitimacy drift in sport mega events. The case study of Rio 2016. Journal of Business Research, 129, 29-42
• Ferreira C., Merendino, A., Meadows, M. (2021) How can directors lose organizational legitimacy because of Big Data? Information System Frontiers, 1-20.
• Dibb, S., Merendino, Aslam, H. and Appleyard, L. (2021) The financial decision-making framework. Journal of Business Research, 131, 826-838
• Merendino and Sarens G. (2020). Crisis What Crisis? Exploring the Cognitive Constraints on the Board of Directors at Times of Uncertainty, Journal of Business Research, 118, 415-430.
• Fiorentino, F., Grimaldi, F., Lamboglia, R. and Merendino, A. (2020) How smart technologies can support sustainable business models? Insights from an air navigation service provider. Management Decision, 58(8), 1715-1736.
• Merendino and Melville R. (2019). Corporate governance and firm performance. Empirical evidence of Italian companies, Corporate Governance, 19(3), 508-551.
• Bek, D., Merendino, A. and Timms, J. (2019). Creating an enduring developmental legacy from FIFA2010: the Football Foundation of South Africa (FFSA). European Sport Management Quarterly, 19(4), 437-455.
• Merendino and Goergen M. (2018). How far that little candle throws his beams! An interview with Mats Isaksson, Journal of Management Inquiry, 27(4), 411–419
• Merendino, A., Dibb, S., Maureen, M., Quinn, L., Wilson, D., Simkin, L., and Canhoto, A. (2018). Big Data and Big Decisions. The Impact of Big Data on Governance: Decision Making at Board Level, Journal of Business Research, 93(C), 67-78.
• Merendino, Deidda Gagliardo E. and Coronella S. (2018) The efficiency of the top Mega Yacht shipbuilders across the world: a financial ratio-based data envelopment analysis, Research Technology Management: international journal of research management, 17 (2), 125 - 147.
• Merendino, A., Bek, D, and Timms, J. (2017) Corporate Governance Practice in Organising Committees for Olympic Games: An Analysis of RIO 2016, Chapter 3, Mataruna, L. and Pena, B. G. (Ed) MEGA EVENTS FOOTPRINTS – Past, Present and Future, pp. 5-16.

A selection of recent reports

• Yang, Y., Merendino, A., Meadows, M. and Healey, T. (2024). Research Note: City of Culture (Coventry 2021) Ticket Issuance by MSOA and Acorn Consumer Classification Acorn report [DOC 998KB]
• Yang, Y., Merendino, A., Meadows, M. and Healey, T. (2024). Research Note: City of Culture (Coventry 2021) Ticket Issuance by MSOA and Internet User Classification IUC report [DOC 1,246KB]
• Merendino, A. and Meadows, M. (2024), Big Data, Big Capabilities:  Merendino, A. and Meadows, M. (2024), Big Data, Big Capabilities: Navigating Big Data journeys to develop the professionals of the future, Working Paper, Queen Mary University of London, p. 1-31 [PDF 369KB], Working Paper, Queen Mary University of London, p. 1-31
• Creative Accounting: Growing Mindsets for Business and Finance Professionals [PDF 2,276KB]
• Harnessing the Capabilities of Big Data for senior finance professionals (output of a funded project) https://www.icas.com/insight/technology/harnessing-the-capabilities-of-big-data
• The Museums Sectors: Be Digital to Be Strategic (output of a funded project) https://www.coventry.ac.uk/globalassets/media/global/08-new-research-section/cbis/projects/museums-sector_be-digital-to-be-strategic_online.pdf
• Co-designing Digital Strategies for the Museum and Education Sectors (output of a funded project) https://pureportal.coventry.ac.uk/en/projects/co-designing-digital-strategies-for-the-museum-and-education-sect
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Supervision

Dr Alessandro Merendino welcomes enquiries from potential doctoral students interested in any of the areas of my research.

Dr Alessandro Merendino is an external PhD supervisor of two PhD students at Coventry University. He is also an external supervisor of three Doctoral Business Administration (DBA) students at Coventry University.

Public Engagement

• Alessandro is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).
• Alessandro co-chairs the European Internal Audit and Corporate Governance community. www.eiacg.com
• Alessandro is a Trustee, the Treasurer and the co-chair of the Finance and Enterprise Committee of Emmaus UK (Coventry and Warwickshire)
• Alessandro is a member of the British Academy of Management, Strategic Management Society and the Institute of Corporate Governance Society.
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• Alessandro routinely presents at Industrial conferences and provides presentations at different organisations and organisation groups including Manufacturing Metrology, Accounting Bodies, Museums and Heritage Advisor, Arts Connect and others.
• Alessandro's research has appeared in business media (Business Insider), professional reports (ACCA), videos and podcasts (ICAS and ICAEW).
• Alessandro is an academic visitor and MSc supervisor at the University of Manchester

Grants

Dr Alessandro Merendino has been awarded grants from different funding bodies including UKRI and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Scotland that look at digital strategies, big data capabilities for senior finance and accounting professionals, the cultural and creative industries.