Barely 6 months after IIM Ahmedabad got its Chairman BoG, the director of the top B-school has decided to relinquish the office. The passionate letter that Prof Ashish Nanda has released on stepping down from the directorship of IIM Ahmedabad cites the distance from family as one of the key reasons for stepping aside. Prof Nanda has already sent his resignation letter to Mr Kumar Mangalam Birla Chairman BoG, IIM Ahmedabad on April 26 and the resignation has since been accepted. Prof Nanda proposes to relinquish the office on September 1, 2017, one year before his term is over.
Prof Nanda has completed 3½ years and on September 1 he will be completing 4 years of his 5 years term as IIM Ahmedabad director.
Earlier, IIM Ahmedabad had remained without a chairman for many months after A. M. Naik, Chairman L & T, relinquished the position of Chairman BoG IIM-A on December 31, 2015, although Cadila Healthcare CMD Pankaj Patel was subsequently appointed as the interim chairman.
It was only after the announcement of appointment of Mr Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman Aditya Birla Group as the new Chairman BoG IIM Ahmedabad on October 21, 2016 by Ministry of HRD, Government of India, IIM Ahmedabad, India’s most prestigious and Number 1 B-school, could get its new Chairman
And now, after a few months Prof Ashish Nanda has taken the decision not to continue as Director of IIM Ahmedabad. It is not clear who will succeed Prof Nanda who is known for his pro-active and innovative steps. Prof Nanda has been instrumental in bringing about desired modifications and amendments in the much debated draft of IIM Bill which earlier had a few clauses that sought curbing the autonomy of Indian Institutes of Management.
Sharing about his decision with IIM Ahmedabad community, Prof Nanda says “This is as good a time as any for leadership transition at the Institute. Thus, I have requested IIMA Chairman Mr. Birla that I step aside from the position of director, and he has graciously acceded to my request. Professionally, I have enjoyed the experience immensely and I have learned a lot. However, personally, living a long distance from my wife and son has been a challenge. When I joined, I had committed to serving at most one term. On September 1, it will be four years, to the day, since I took charge. It is a good time to step aside and to hand over the responsibility and honor of leading the Institute to the next, fortunate person. I will hand over responsibilities of director at the end of that day”
Feels fortunate working with IIM Ahmedabad
Prof Nanda says “These past three and a half years, I have woken up every day feeling fortunate to be working for an institution that has contributed tremendously to me. I feel privileged to have followed in the footsteps of people I greatly admire, to have had the opportunity to lead the Institute at a crucial time in its trajectory, and to have contributed to the best of my ability to its continuing success.
IIM Ahmedabad moving in right direction
Prof Nanda says ‘I believe we are at a point when there is alignment among various constituencies of the Institute as to the direction we ought to follow and considerable momentum along the path that we are following. We have a committed and enthusiastic chairman providing vision and guidance, a wise and engaged board, faculty that is productive and energized, staff that is loyal and devoted, brilliant and hardworking students, a diaspora of alumni committed to the Institute’s long term success, governmental support for operating autonomously to achieve our dreams, and industry that respects and values the Institute.
Acknowledges all
Prof Nanda says that his heart is always with IIMA and he is always available to help the Institute in any way that he can. Prof Nanda has promised to contribute to effect a smooth transition.
Extending his gratitude to Chairman BoG, board members, faculty, alumni staff and the students, Prof Nanda says “I am grateful to Mr. Naik, Mr. Patel, and Mr. Birla for their unstinted support and guidance, to the board members for their selfless contribution and prudent counsel, to the faculty for their dedication and effort, to the alumni for their avowed affection and engagement, to the staff for their fidelity and goodwill, and to the students for their dreams and their dedication.”
Family – key factor
Adding further to the achievements during his tenure as Director IIM Ahmedabad, Prof Nanda says, “But I couldn’t have had this extraordinary adventure without the love of my wife, who, despite the distance we have lived apart, has been a partner with me in this journey every step of the way, the blessings of my parents, and the affection of my son.”
Chairman BoG applauds the tenure of Prof Nanda as IIM-A director
In a message to Prof Ashish Nanda, Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman, IIMA Board of Governors & Society, Chairman, Aditya Birla Group has applauded his efforts and devotion to the institute. The message says “I fully understand your need to be with family and the inconvenience that the separation is causing you. Hence, I accept your resignation, albeit with regret. In the few months that we have worked together, I have seen your unwavering commitment to IIMA and the passion and zeal with which you have worked for its holistic progress. You have done a wonderful job in the past 3½ years that you have been heading the Institute, and I am sure that you will remain engaged with the Institute in the future as well. On behalf of the Board of Governors, and on my own behalf, I would like to express our gratitude for your outstanding contribution to IIMA. As we have discussed, I have no doubt that you will carry out your responsibilities as Director with undiminished enthusiasm and commitment till your last working day here.”
IIM Ahmedabad BoG and MHRD Govt of India will now need to decide on next IIM Ahmedabad director as early as possible since only 4 months are left to September 1, when Prof Nanda will say good bye to IIM Ahmedabad. Going by the appointment trends of Directors in various IIMs, which takes many months, it remains to be seen how early this top B-school gets new permanent director.
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