Key facts
- Professor Rishikesha T. Krishnan has been appointed the next Vice-Chancellor of Ashoka University.
- His term is set to begin on August 1, 2026, for an initial period of three years.
- Krishnan, a management and policy scholar, previously led IIM Indore and IIM Bangalore.
- He succeeds Professor Somak Raychaudhury, who will remain with the university as a professor.
- During Raychaudhury's tenure, Ashoka University established seven new schools and expanded scholarships.
Ashoka University has announced the appointment of Professor Rishikesha T. Krishnan as its next Vice-Chancellor, effective August 1, 2026. His initial term will span three years. Professor Krishnan, a distinguished scholar in management and policy, brings a wealth of experience from his previous leadership roles, including serving as Director of IIM Indore and IIM Bangalore. His academic background includes an Integrated M.Sc. from IIT Kanpur, studies at Stanford University, and a doctoral program from IIM Ahmedabad, with research focused on innovation in India. He has also contributed to national policy through committee memberships, including the Justice BN Srikrishna Committee. Professor Krishnan will succeed Professor Somak Raychaudhury, who has been instrumental in the university's growth, overseeing the establishment of seven new schools and the introduction of 500 scholarships. Raychaudhury will continue his association with Ashoka University as a scientist and professor. Chancellor Rudrangshu Mukherjee expressed confidence in Krishnan's ability to lead Ashoka during this significant phase of its development.