IIM Udaipur has appointed Prof Ashok Banerjee, faculty at IIM Calcutta, as its new Director. Prof Banerjee takes charge on August 1, 2022, and succeeds Prof Janat Shah, who has helmed the institute for 11 years, since its inception in 2011.

Prof Banerjee is a chartered accountant and holds an MCom degree from Calcutta University and a PhD from Rajasthan University. Prof Banerjee is a seasoned academician with vast experience as a senior professor in the subject of finance and control. His research interests are in high-frequency finance, fintech, and sentiment analysis.

He was the Dean of New Initiatives and External Relations at IIM Calcutta from 2012 to 2015. Prior to joining IIM Calcutta, he was a professor at IIM Lucknow.

On being appointed the new Director of IIM Udaipur, Prof Ashok Banerjee said, “I look forward to the support of the board and all stakeholders as we take the institute further ahead. IIMU has a well-set vision to be a globally recognised B-school, built on the pillars of student transformation and excellence in research. I’m excited and privileged to be a part of it. I thank Mr Pankaj Patel and the board for providing me this opportunity.”

New zeal

He also serves as an independent director on the boards of companies in the financial and technology sectors. During his stint as Dean, Prof Banerjee is credited with setting up an incubator at IIM Calcutta — IIM Calcutta Innovation Park, which is recognised by the Department of Science and Technology as a technology business incubator.

Prof Banerjee was the founder-coordinator of the financial research and trading laboratory of IIM Calcutta. He was instrumental in starting the International Finance Conference in 2009 at IIM Calcutta. The conference is now re-christened as India Finance Conference and is organised jointly by IIM Calcutta, IIM Bangalore, and IIM Ahmedabad.

Prof Janat Shah extended his warm welcome to Prof Ashok Banerjee and said, “I thank the board, advisors, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and everyone else who has ever been a part of IIM Udaipur’s path-breaking journey. It is

There is a zeal, purpose, and energy that I see at IIM Udaipur. I am sure, it will immensely assist Prof Banerjee as he takes IIMU to the next level. “Undoubtedly their unflinching support, dedication, and inspired work that has helped us create a difference.”