IIM Ahmedabad appoints Pankaj R Patel as new chairperson of board of governors

NEW DELHI: The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad has announced the appointment of Pankaj R Patel as the new chairperson of the institute’s board of governors. Patel has taken charge as the fourteenth chairperson. Patel succeeded Kumar Mangalam Birla, who completed his four years term on November 15. Before being appointed as chairperson, Patel has been a member of the IIMA board of governors for eight years.

Patel is the chairman of Zydus Lifesciences Ltd., a discovery-driven, global lifesciences company with operations in 55 countries worldwide. Patel has published over 100 research papers in peer reviewed journals and is a co-inventor in more than 64 patents.

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Patel has been appointed as the part-time non-official director in the central board of the Reserve Bank of India. He is on the governing board of IIM Udaipur, Invest India, and India Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. He is also a member of the CEO advisory committee of International Generics and Biosimilars Association (IGBA).

Patel is a former president of the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). He is the executive chairman, vice president and trustee of the Gujarat Cancer Society and chairman of the Gujarat Cancer and Research Institute. He also officiates as the chairman of the Deaf and Mute School, Ahmedabad. He is also a director and chairman on the board of Zydus Foundation.

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In recognition of his contributions to the healthcare industry in India, Patel is a recipient of several awards including the Acharya PC Ray Memorial Gold Medal Award and the Eminent Pharmacist Award, the India Innovator Award at the India Business Leaders Awards instituted by CNBC. For his entrepreneurial vision, Patel was awarded the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in the life sciences category.

Sharing his views on taking on this role, Pankaj R Patel said, “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. I am excited to be a part of this esteemed institute and look forward to working with the Board of Governors, faculty members, students, staff members, the alumni group, and all other relevant stakeholders. The Board envisages 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."