Rishikesha T Krishnan Appointed Next Vice-Chancellor of Ashoka University

On Monday, June 15, 2026, Ashoka University announced the appointment of Professor Rishikesha T Krishnan as its next Vice-Chancellor. Krishnan, the former Director of IIM Bangalore and IIM Indore, will assume office at the university's campus for an initial three-year term starting August 1, 2026.

He succeeds Professor Somak Raychaudhury, who announced his decision to step down earlier this year. Raychaudhury, an astrophysicist who was appointed in November 2022, chose not to seek a second term but will remain associated with Ashoka University as a scientist and professor.

The transition process began after Raychaudhury's decision was communicated on March 5. Following his announcement, the university's Governing Body formed a Search Committee to identify potential successors and recommend candidates to Chancellor Rudrangshu Mukherjee.

Krishnan has a distinguished track record of leading premier Indian management institutions. He completed full terms as the Director of IIM Indore from 2014 to 2018, and subsequently as the Director of IIM Bangalore from 2020 to 2025. At IIM Bangalore, he oversaw the creation of the School of Multidisciplinary Studies and prepared for new undergraduate programmes in Economics and Data Science.

A physicist by training, Krishnan earned an Integrated MSc in Physics from IIT Kanpur and studied Engineering-Economic Systems at Stanford University. He received his doctorate in Management and Public Policy from IIM Ahmedabad. In 2025, IIT Kanpur honored him with its Distinguished Alumnus Award.

Beyond his academic leadership, Krishnan has been active in national public policy. He has served on committees for the Department of Science and Technology and was a member of the Justice B N Srikrishna Committee, which proposed India's data protection framework.

Chancellor Rudrangshu Mukherjee welcomed the appointment, noting that Krishnan's record as a scholar and institution builder makes him ideally suited to lead the university. Krishnan stated that it is a great privilege to lead the research-driven institution.