Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s S P Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR) announced the appointment of Dr Varun Nagaraj, a US-based practitioner-academic, as the new Dean of the institute. Dr Nagaraj will be joining SPJIMR in September 2021.
Dr Nagaraj, who was selected through a search process led by a global C-Suite executive search company, holds a BTech in electrical engineering from IIT Bombay, an MS in computer engineering from NC State University, an MBA from Boston University, and a PhD in designing sustainable systems from Case Western Reserve University.
Promoting value-based growth
In a 30-year career, Dr Nagaraj has worked to innovate and bring digital products to market and has led teams at venture-backed and public companies in Silicon Valley and Boston. Dr Nagaraj has an active research and teaching focus on digital strategy and transformation. He has served as adjunct faculty with the University of Notre Dame, Pepperdine University, and Boston University, teaching in the areas of digital product management, digital innovation and strategy, and product management with lean, agile and system design thinking.
The announcement of Dr Nagaraj’s appointment was made at the institute by Deepak Parekh, the Chairman of the Governing Council of SPJIMR. Parekh said he was happy to announce the selection, which came after a rigorous global search process. Dr Nagaraj, who spoke briefly at the faculty and staff meetings, said he was looking forward to moving to Mumbai to take up the new role. He said, “As technology rapidly transforms industry and society, the SPJIMR mission of influencing industry practice and promoting values-based growth is more relevant than ever.”
Previous experience
Dr Nagaraj is currently the Chief Operating Officer at Bidgely Inc, a California-based, venture-funded, series-C start-up focused on AI-based, analytics software for utilities and energy retailers. As COO, Dr Nagaraj was responsible for product, engineering, and delivery. Prior to Bidgely, Dr Nagaraj worked as CEO at Sierra Monitor Corporation, where he led its transformation to an Industrial IoT company, and at NetContinuum, a leading web application firewall company, whose products secure the world's leading cloud data centers.
He has experience developing and delivering classes on digital strategy and digital product management in classroom, hybrid, and online (MOOC) formats, blending a case-based approach with current industry practices and personal experience.