New Delhi: Ashoka University announced Monday the appointment of Professor Rishikesha T. Krishnan as its next vice-chancellor for an initial three-year term.
Krishnan will take over from the incumbent Somak Raychaudhury on 1 August.
The appointment follows a rigorous selection process conducted by a committee constituted by the Governing Body of Ashoka University, the private university said.
Professor Krishnan has previously served as the head of IIM-Indore (January 2014 to December 2018) and IIM-Bangalore (July 2020 to July 2025). Between 2015 and 2017, he was also the founder and mentor director of IIM-Sambalpur.
A renowned management and policy scholar, Krishnan is known for his work on “systematic innovation” which is particularly influential across the spheres of academia, industry, and public policy.
With his major interests lying in strategy and innovation, Krishnan was a Visiting Scholar at the Center for the Advanced Study of India, University of Pennsylvania for Fall 2008, and at the Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad in 2011-12.
At IIM-Bangalore, he also held the Jamuna Raghavan Chair in Entrepreneurship from 2007-10, and served as Chairperson, Corporate Strategy Area (2009-2013), Chairperson, PGP (MBA Programme) (2002 – 2004), and Chairperson, Research & C-DOCTA (2004 – 2009).
He had also established the School of Multidisciplinary Studies and led the development of undergraduate programmes in Economics and Data Science.
Krishnan has served on several national bodies and boards, including the Higher Education Financing Agency and the Board of Management of the Manipal Academy of Higher Education.
Professor Krishnan’s educational background spans a multidisciplinary journey, ranging from Physics at IIT-Kanpur, Engineering-Economic Systems at Stanford University, to Management and Public Policy at IIM-Ahmedabad.
“Since its inception, Ashoka University has set high standards as a new-generation, research-driven institution,” Krishnan said, responding to his appointment to the post.
“It is a great privilege to lead the university as its vice-chancellor at this critical yet exciting juncture in its evolution. I look forward to working closely with the faculty, students, staff, alumni, donors and all stakeholders to contribute to the university’s continued growth and aspirations.”
Professor Rudrangshu Mukherjee, chancellor of Ashoka University, welcomed the appointment of Krishnan.
“Professor Krishnan’s distinguished record as a scholar and institution-builder makes him ideally suited to lead Ashoka at this important moment in its journey. We are delighted to welcome him to the Ashoka family and look forward to the vision and energy he will bring to this role,” he said.
Meanwhile, Raychaudhary, the outgoing vice-chancellor, will continue to be associated with the university as a scientist and professor.
Akshat Mohan is a TPSJ alum, currently interning with ThePrint
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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