Zydus Lifesciences Chairman Pankaj Patel appointed IIMA Chairman

Patel takes charge as the fourteenth Chairperson of the IIMA Board.

The Indian Institute of Ahmedabad (IIMA) has appointed Pankaj R. Patel as the new Chairperson of the IIMA Board of Governors. Pankaj R. Patel is the fourteenth Chairperson of the IIMA since the institute was founded in 1961. He succeeds Kumar Mangalam Birla, who completed his four years term yesterday.

Prior to being appointed as Chairperson, Pankaj Patel has been a member of the IIMA Board of Governors for eight years.

Pankaj Patel is the Chairman of Zydus Lifesciences Ltd., a discovery-driven, global Lifesciences company with operations in 55 countries worldwide. Pankaj Patel 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. 

Sharing his views on taking on this all-important role, Pankaj R. Patel said, “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. I am excited to be a part of this esteemed institute and look forward to working with the Board of Governors, faculty members, students, staff members, the alumni group, and all other relevant stakeholders. 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."

Patel has been appointed as the Part Time Non-Official Director in Central Board of the Reserve Bank of India. He is on the Governing Board of IIM Udaipur, Invest India, and India Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India.

In recognition of his contributions to the healthcare industry in India, Pankaj Patel is a recipient of several awards including the Acharya PC Ray Memorial Gold Medal Award and the Eminent Pharmacist Award, the India Innovator Award at the India Business Leaders Awards instituted by CNBC. For his entrepreneurial vision, Patel was awarded the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in the Life Sciences category.

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