Pankaj R Patel designated as chairperson of the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) Board of Governors today. Patel takes over for Kumar Mangalam Birla, who finished his four-year term on Tuesday. He is the 14th chairperson of the IIMA since its inception in 1961.
“My appointment as a Chairperson comes at an important juncture for the Institute when it is at the cusp of the next phase of its growth,” said Patel in a statement while sharing his views. “The Board envisages a robust growth for the IIMA and has outlined plans to lead the Institute in this direction. I will be happy to support and share my expertise to help the Board in bringing alive our collective vision for the Institute.”
Pankaj R Patel previously served on the IIMA Board of Governors for eight years before being appointed chairperson. He also serves as the chairman of Zydus Lifesciences Ltd. Patel has over 100 peer-reviewed journal publications and is a co-inventor on over 64 patents. He has also received several awards, including the Acharya PC Ray Memorial Gold Medal Award and the Eminent Pharmacist Award.