IIM Calcutta Alumnus Anju Seth Returns To India To Become First Woman Director Of The Institute

In a welcome move, IIM-Calcutta has got its first-ever woman director, Professor Anju Seth, who will be taking over the reins from Saibal Chattopadhyay.

Seth officially took over the post yesterday, however, she will be taking charge only after a month. Interim Director Prof Leena Chatterjee will continue to officiate till then.

Seth is an alumnus of IIM-Calcutta of 1978 batch and has a doctorate from the University of Michigan (1988). Later, she went on to join Virginia Tech in 2008 and headed its Department of Management from 2008 to 2013.

The search-cum-selection committee of IIM-Calcutta had shortlisted three US-based academicians for the post, Anju Seth of Pamplin College of Business at Virginia Tech, Jayant R Kale, professor of finance at the Northeastern University and Suresh Ramanathan, professor of marketing at Mays Business School, Texas A&M University.

Seth is the second female to ever head of an IIM and the third foreign-based academician to hold the post after Ashish Nanda’s appointment to IIM-Ahmedabad and Sushil Vachani to IIM-Bangalore in 2013 and 2014, respectively. However, both Vachani and Nanda stepped down before completing their term.

Interim Director Prof Leena Chatterjee, speaking on Seth’s appointment said, “ All of us are extremely happy about the decision. It is a good thing that women are now being appointed in key positions and leadership roles. The fact that she is an alumnus makes it even more fitting. I have been at the Institute for 34 years and have seen the presence of women increase in the field — especially in regard of female students” as reported by TIE.