IIM Ahmedabad appoints Pankaj Patel as new Chairperson of the Board of Governors

The Indian Institute of Ahmedabad (IIMA) has announced the appointment of Pankaj R. Patel as the new Chairperson of the its Board of Governors, effective November 16. Pankaj R. Patel succeeds Kumar Mangalam Birla, who completed his four years term yesterday.

Patel, who will become the fourteenth Chairperson of the institute, has been a member of the IIMA Board of Governors for eight years.

“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. “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 Patel is the Chairman of Zydus Lifesciences Ltd., a discovery-driven, global Lifesciences company with operations in 55 countries worldwide. He combines both research and techno-commercial expertise and has published over 100 research papers in peer reviewed journals and is a co-inventor in more than 64 patents.

Through his various associations with educational institutions and not-for-profit organisations that serve at the grassroots, Mr. Patel champions and supports the causes related to education, health and innovation.