Expressnews
Chennai, May 5, 2025 –Great Lakes Institute of Management has appointed Dr Debashis Sanyal as its new Director, effective May 1, 2025. Dr. Sanyal succeeds Dr. Suresh Ramanathan, who concluded a distinguished six-year tenure marked by remarkable institutional progress. During Dr. Ramanathan’s tenure, Great Lakes earned the AACSB accreditation, attained Tier-1 status from NBA and AICTE, and significantly enhanced its academic and industry reputation. His tenure laid the foundation for the next phase of growth and global recognition.
Dr. Sanyal brings with him over four decades of academic leadership across India and abroad, with a distinguished track record in driving institutional excellence, international accreditations, and innovation in management education. Prior to this role, Dr. Sanyal served as Director at Great Lakes, Gurgaon, where he led the institute to new heights – establishing cutting-edge centers such as the Center for Sustainable Development and the Center of Business Analytics.
Previously, he was Vice Provost-Management and Dean at NMIMS University, Mumbai, where he was instrumental in launching new programs and securing prestigious AMBA and AACSB accreditations. He has also held senior roles at MDI Gurgaon and S.P. Jain Centre of Management, Singapore, and is widely regarded as a leading authority on international accreditation in Indian management education. Notably, he was at the helm when MDI became the first Indian B-school to achieve AMBA accreditation in 2002.
Commenting on the transition, Mr. Mohan Lakhamraju, Chairman, Great Lakes Institute of Management, said: “We are delighted to welcome Dr. Debashis Sanyal as the Director of Great Lakes, Chennai. His deep expertise, proven leadership, and unparalleled contribution to management education in India make him the ideal choice to lead us into the next phase of growth. We are confident that under his stewardship, Great Lakes will continue to innovate, expand its reach, and create transformative impact.”
As Dr. Sanyal steps into his new role, Great Lakes reaffirms its commitment to academic rigor, industry relevance, and global benchmarks, ushering in a new chapter of growth and innovation.
