K.M. Birla Appointed as New Chairman of IIM-Ahmedabad
The appointment of KM Birla will strengthen industry-academia-government linkages.
There has been a long hunt for a new Chairperson of Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. However, Board of Governors (BOG) felt a sigh of relief as the Ministry of Human Resource and Development has appointed Kumar Mangalam Birla as the Chairman of IIM-A BOG and its society. Currently, Birla is the Chairman of IIT-Delhi’s BOG. He has been appointed as the Chairman of IIM-A for a tenure of three years.
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AM Naik, former Chairman of IIM-A, stepped down in December 2015 stating that he did not have enough time to devote towards the institute. Later IIM-A had set up a selection committee and shortlisted three names which included Seshasayee, Parekh and Pawan-Munjal. However, former HRD Minister Smriti Irani rejected the names of these three candidates in May 2016.
According to sources, KM Birla did not have a close association with IIM-A for a decade or so. However, the appointment of KM Birla will strengthen industry-academia-government linkages. One of the society members of IIM-A revealed that IIM-A is independent on academic matters but needs someone to lead it who has a good standing in the global business community.
Premier institutes like IIMs and IITs expect that whoever takes charge as the Chairman shall give time to the institute and should be well entrenched in Indian industry.