Dr Dholakia is set to join the company as an advisor to Adani Group Chairman Mr Gautam Adani. Gujarat based Adani Group is a conglomerate involved in development of Ports, Power, Logistics, SEZs, Energy, Global Trading, Shipping.
For Dr Dholakia, who had stepped down on October 10 after successfully completing his five year term at IIM-A, this will be a full time assignment. IIMA spokesperson informed MBAUniverse.com that Dr. Dholakia would be on leave without pay from IIMA, retaining his lien on his faculty position at IIMA.
Commenting on the appointment, Adani Group said, "In the Adani Group, as Advisor to Shri Gautam Adani, his rich experience in Brand Building (IIMA), Corporate Governance, Energy Sector, and Economist background will ensure the speed of growth set by the Adani Group is maintained and accelerated."
Adani Group is also foraying into higher education in the area of Infrastructure Management. Adani Group is setting up Infrastructure Management Institute in the 500 acre Shantigram Township which is being developed on Sarkhej - Gandhinagar highway in Gujarat. It also has plans to set up a University.
In addition, Adani Group is also setting up a large facility to train its own executives in a centre called the Adani Knowledge Centre, also in Shantigram Township. According to Adani Group, Dr Dholakia will play a leading role in formation of both these institutes.
Dr Dholakia's role will not just be limited to the education foray. He will play a part in overall group strategy development. Said Gautam Adani, Chairman Adani Group, "An economist of such eminence as Dr. Dholakia, is someone who will be able to guide us not only in how to strategize our present businesses but also in how to strategize our future growth."
When asked what motivated him to agree to join Adani Group, Dr. Dholakia said, "In the last 10 years, I have been studying the Adani Group. It is one of the fastest growing groups of Gujarat. I have been a silent Admirer of Gautambhai and his courage of conviction. When Gautambhai asked me if I would be willing to help him develop leaders within his organization, I realized that Gautambhai was a true believer in Larry Bossidy's belief that At the end of the day, we bet on people and not strategies." He added, "At IIM(A), I have been involved in developing Business leaders, and when Gautambhai told me that his focus is to develop leaders not only for his own companies but for Indian Infrastructure Sector as a whole, it aroused the same passion in me that IIMA aroused for the last 33 years. It is a challenge which is close to our hearts and the synergy it can generate is what lured me to agreeing to Gautambhai's proposal."
Adani Group is $3.5 billion diversified conglomerate with portfolio that includes Commodities Trading, Edible oil Manufacturing, Mundra port operations and Natural Gas Distribution. The Group is in the process of its IPO and is also participating in SEZs.
