IIM-Ahmedabad gets new director from Harvard

Ahmedabad: Come September 2 and one of country's top schools, the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A) will have a new director. And in one of the first, the Institute will have a director from an international institute.

Trying to establish itself as amongst the top B schools in the world, IIM Ahmedabad, had for the first time, advertised the post in an international publication seeking a candidate with global exposure. The search ended with the Harvard law school professor, Ashish Nanda. Though from an international institute, Mr Nanda is no stranger to the IIM-A, having passed out from there in 1983.

"A lot of what I am today is because of the institute. So it's a feeling that life has come a full circle. In a sense I would be giving back to the IIM-A what it has given me. Will try to contribute in whatever manner I can," said Mr Nanda.

The post of the director was lying vacant for the last 10 months after Dr Samir Barua's five-year-old term ended in November last year. The institute's board constituted a search committee in June last year and sought applications from India and abroad.

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In March this year, a list of three candidates that included Mr Nanda, were sent to Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) for approval. IIM officials point out that perhaps for the first time a director was selected in an open and competitive process.

A gold medallist from IIT-Delhi and IIM-Ahmedabad, Mr Nanda takes over at a time when the institute is attempting to raise its stature at the international level.

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"It's a hidden jewel. The students, professors, alumni, all are excellent but the institute doesn't have the same presence internationally as others have. So we have an opportunity to take our rightful place," commented Mr Nanda.

IIM authorities hope that with the right mix of international exposure and familiarity with IIM Ahmedabad, the new director will help take institute to the top international academic levels.