Ashoka University on Monday announced the appointment of Professor Rishikesha T. Krishnan, as its next Vice-Chancellor (V-C) for an initial three-year term, with effect from August 1.
Krishnan, widely regarded as one of India’s most accomplished academic leaders, brings to Ashoka an exceptional record of scholarship, institution-building and engagement with national policy.
He succeeds Professor Somak Raychaudhury, whose tenure was marked by significant academic growth, institutional strengthening, and global recognition for the university.
The appointment follows a rigorous search and selection process conducted by a committee constituted by the governing body of the university.
A noted thinker and institution-builder, Krishnan brings a wealth of experience spanning decades of academic leadership, scholarly inquiry, and transformative institutional change.
Krishnan’s multi-disciplinary educational journey spans physics, with a five-year integrated M.Sc. from IIT Kanpur; engineering-economic systems from Stanford University’s School of Engineering, and a doctoral programme in management and public policy from IIM Ahmedabad.
A management and policy scholar, his research has focused on innovation in India at organisational, industrial, and national levels, and his work has been published in leading international journals in management, economics, development and science policy.
His books on innovation, from Jugaad to Systematic Innovation: The Challenge for India and 8 Steps to Innovation: Going from Jugaad to Excellence (co-authored with Vinay Dabholkar), have received wide acclaim, with the latter winning the Best Book Award for 2013 from the Indian Society for Training and Development.
Krishnan has helmed two Indian Institutes of Management, completing full terms at both, as Director of IIM Indore (2014-2018) and Director of IIM Bangalore (2020-2025). At IIM Bangalore, he established a School of Multidisciplinary Studies and led the impending launch of the undergraduate programmes in economics and data science.
He has served on several boards, including that of the Higher Education Financing Agency (a JV between the government of India and Canara Bank) and the Board of Management of the Manipal Academy of Higher Education.
Krishnan has also been deeply engaged with national policy, having served on committees of the Department of Science & Technology and as a member of the Justice BN Srikrishna Committee that proposed a data protection framework for India.
He was a visiting scholar at the Centre for the Advanced Study of India, University of Pennsylvania, and held the Ram Charan Chair in Innovation and Leadership at IIM Bangalore. In 2025, IIT Kanpur honoured Krishnan with its distinguished alumni award (DAA), the institute’s highest alumni recognition, acknowledging his exceptional contributions to management education and thought leadership.
Speaking on the appointment, Rudrangshu Mukherjee, Chancellor, Ashoka University, Delhi-NCR, said, “Professor Krishnan’s distinguished record as a scholar and institution builder makes him ideally suited to lead Ashoka at this important moment in its journey. At the same time, we extend our gratitude to Professor Somak Raychaudhury for his remarkable contributions to Ashoka University. His leadership has left an enduring imprint on the institution.”
Pramath Raj Sinha, Founder & Trustee, Ashoka University, Delhi-NCR, added, “Rishi is among India’s most respected academic leaders, with a proven track record of building institutions, nurturing innovation, and advancing excellence in higher education.”
On his appointment, Krishnan said, “Since its inception, Ashoka University has set high standards as a new generation, research-driven institution. It is a great privilege to lead the University as its Vice Chancellor at this critical yet exciting juncture in its evolution. I look forward to working closely with the faculty, students, staff, alumni, donors and all stakeholders to contribute to the university’s continued growth and aspirations.”
