Rammohan Rao appointed new dean of ISB

The Indian School of Business (ISB) has announced the appointment of professor M Rammohan Rao as the new dean from July 1, 2004. Rao takes over from professor Vijay Mahajan who has been serving as the dean since 2002.

Vijay Mahajan, over the last two years, held the dual responsibility of being the dean of ISB and also as the John P Harbin Centennial Chair in Business at the McCombs School of Business, University of Texas at Austin. After completing his tenure at the ISB, Mahajan will return to Austin to continue his role as the professor of marketing.

Rajat Gupta, chairman of ISB, said in a release that, "Dean Rao will lead the ISB through its next phase of growth and will help establish a strong research culture at the ISB. His outstanding track record in management research and his international experience will help the ISB achieve its aspiration to be a world- class B-school and a management thought leader in India."

Gupta also said: "Vijay Mahajan was a remarkable leader and a great dean. He ensured that the ISB made rapid strides during his tenure, and was instrumental in shaping the school into what it is today."

Vijay Mahajan said in the release, "Over the past two years, we faced several challenges but I also was able to overcome them with the tremendous support of the board, the faculty, the students and the staff of ISB... I will always be associated with the ISB in a number of ways and will watch it grow from strength to strength.."

On his new role, Rao said, "It is an honour to be chosen to lead the ISB as its dean. It is also a great responsibility. The ISB established its leadership in India in a very short period of time. I hope to build on all its strengths and help it make a mark for itself internationally. The caliber of a top- class B-School is judged by its academic excellence and the quality of research it produces. During its next phase of growth, I will focus on creating a world class research culture at the ISB."

Rao has a PhD in industrial administration from Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), and dual masters' degrees from CMU and Cornell University.

He was a tenured professor of operations research at the Stern School of Business, New York University, and also taught at the University of Rochester and the University of Tennessee before joining IIM Bangalore. He served as the dean and the director of IIM Bangalore.

Rao has published over 85 articles in various renowned professional journals, and has undertaken consultancy assignments for several companies. He currently serves on the boards of several companies and educational institutions.

Rao is a recipient of the Fulkerson Prize sponsored by the Mathematical Programming Society and the American Mathematical Society. He also won the Institute of Marketing and Management Award for Excellence as Top Management Educator.