Naik resigns as IIMA Chairman, search committee formed for replacement

Ahmedabad

Mr. AM Naik has tendered his resignation as IIMA Chairman. The Board of Governors of the Institute has constituted a Search Committee to identify the new Chairman. In the interim, Mr. Naik will continue in the position.

Mr. Naik, who is also Chairman of L&T, informed IIMA Board members about his decision in the Board Meeting on December 18th. Board members unanimously urged him to reconsider, but upon deliberation, Mr. Naik decided to put in his papers. His resignation, submitted to HRD Minister on December 22nd, stated: “This has not been an easy decision to take — given my deeply fulfilling experience of close to four years. But going forward, owing to increased business responsibilities, I do not believe I will be able to do full justice to my position, and it would be best for all concerned if IIMA has a new person at the helm.”

Mr. Naik had taken up Chairmanship of the Institute at a sensitive time, when it was looking for a new Director. Mr. Naik’s vision was to internationalize the institution, and continue to move IIMA on the trajectory of becoming one of the best management education institutions globally. He put in an enormous amount of time and effort in the Director selection process, eventually convincing Prof. Ashish Nanda of Harvard University to take up the position. Mr. Naik also encouraged several academic and industry leaders to join the IIMA Board. As Chairman, he led IIMA Board in guiding the Institute.

“Mr. Naik’s tenure as IIMA Chairman has been an exciting time for the Institute,” said IIMA Director Prof. Ashish Nanda. “IIMA has taken several new initiatives in the last few years to build on its strengths and become more impactful as a global leader in management education. Mr. Naik initiated many of these exciting initiatives and has been a bulwark of support and encouragement to the Institute. Even as we are saddened that he is stepping down, we are grateful for his stewardship and appreciative of his legacy,” Prof. Nanda added.