SVKM’s Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS), a Deemed-to-be University, has appointed renowned academic leader and management scholar Prof. Sougata Ray as its new Vice Chancellor, effective July 16, 2026. With more than three and a half decades of experience across higher education, strategy, innovation, entrepreneurship, and corporate governance, Prof. Ray is set to lead the university into its next phase of academic growth and global engagement.
Before joining NMIMS, Prof. Ray served as the Thomas Schmidheiny Chaired Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship Practice and Executive Director of the Thomas Schmidheiny Centre for Family Enterprise at the Indian School of Business (ISB). Earlier, he held several leadership roles at the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta (IIM Calcutta), including Professor of Strategic Management, Dean, and Member of the Board of Governors. He also led the Innovation Lab at Infosys Technologies as General Manager and has advised entrepreneurs, multinational corporations, business leaders, and public institutions on strategy, governance, innovation, and digital transformation.
An internationally recognised scholar, Prof. Ray’s research spans strategy, innovation, entrepreneurship, digital transformation, and family enterprise. He has authored nearly 200 research papers, articles, books, and case studies, while playing a key role in institution building at IIM Indore, IIM Calcutta, and ISB. He is an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad and the Indian Institute of Engineering, Science and Technology (IIEST), Shibpur.
Welcoming the appointment, NMIMS Chancellor Shri Amrish R. Patel said Prof. Ray’s distinguished scholarship, proven leadership, and commitment to institution building make him ideally suited to guide the university through its next phase of growth, scale, and academic excellence.
Expressing his gratitude, Prof. Ray said it was a privilege to lead one of India’s most respected universities at a time when higher education is being reimagined globally. He emphasised his commitment to fostering innovation, interdisciplinary learning, meaningful societal impact, and preparing future-ready leaders equipped for an AI-driven and inclusive world.
Prof. Ray’s appointment comes at a pivotal stage in NMIMS’ journey as the university seeks to strengthen research, innovation, entrepreneurship, industry partnerships, and international collaborations. His vision of AI-enabled, innovation-driven, and globally relevant education is expected to further enhance NMIMS’ standing as a leading institution shaping the future of higher education.
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