ISB extends Professor Madan Pillutla’s tenure as Dean for a Second Term

The Executive Board of the Indian School of Business (ISB) has announced that Professor Madan Pillutla will continue as Dean for a second five-year term, reaffirming its confidence in his leadership and vision for the institution's next phase of growth and global impact, as the school celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.

During his first term, Professor Pillutla oversaw several strategic initiatives that strengthened ISB's academic offerings, research impact, entrepreneurship ecosystem, and institutional brand. These included the launch of the Post Graduate Programme in Management for Young Leaders (PGP YL); I-Venture Immersive (ivi), a first-of-its-kind residential programme for aspiring entrepreneurs and ISB Discover, India's first practitioner-focused digital platform that translates faculty research into actionable insights for business, policy, and society. He also led the curriculum redesign of ISB's flagship Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGP), ensuring it remains aligned with the evolving needs of business and industry.

Under Professor Pillutla’s tenure, ISB has strengthened its global standing, with its flagship Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGP) securing the #12 position globally in the Financial Times Global MBA Rankings 2026. In 2025, ISB ranked at #5 position in the LinkedIn Top MBA Programs 2025, which evaluates the career outcomes of MBA alumni from business schools worldwide.

Professor Pillutla's first term also marked significant progress in strengthening ISB's institutional foundations. The School expanded access to world-class management education through enhanced scholarship support, while deepening engagement with students, alumni, global partners, and industry. During this period, ISB also broadened its philanthropic base, with growing support from alumni, donors, and institutional partners helping advance the School's long-term priorities across research, faculty, scholarships, and institutional development. Together, these initiatives have reinforced ISB's position among Asia's leading business schools and strengthened its platform for future growth.

Announcing the extension, Harish Manwani, Chairman of the Executive Board, Indian School of Business, said: “Professor Pillutla’ s first term has been marked by several significant milestones for the school. Under his leadership, ISB has strengthened its academic and research standing, deepened its global partnerships, and continued to build on its reputation as one of the leading business schools in Asia. The school has also made notable progress in expanding its programme portfolio, enhancing the student and alumni experience, and reinforcing ISB's role as a thought leadership platform on issues of national and global relevance. This period has also seen a marked strengthening of ISB's philanthropic base, with sustained growth in fundraising and an expanding community of donors and partners committing to the school's long-term vision. We look forward to the continued growth and impact of ISB under his stewardship in the years ahead.”

Professor Madan Pillutla, Dean, Indian School of Business, said: “It is an honour to continue serving the Indian School of Business for another term. I am grateful that the Board has entrusted me with the stewardship of this remarkable institution, and I thank our faculty, colleagues, students, alumni, and partners for their trust, support, and commitment to the school. Together, we will continue to strengthen ISB's contribution to India's future by developing responsible leaders, generating knowledge that matters, and serving business and society.”

Professor Pillutla’s relationship with ISB runs since the School’s inception. He taught the founding batch of the Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGP) and has served as the Area Leader for Organisational Behaviour. Prior to his role as Dean at ISB, he held distinguished academic and administrative positions at the London Business School (LBS) as a Professor of Organisational Behaviour. His deep global academic expertise, combined with a nuanced understanding of emerging market dynamics, continues to guide ISB in training the next generation of business leaders.

About the Indian School of Business (ISB)
The Indian School of Business (ISB) is India’s highest-ranked business school and features in the top league of several global business school rankings. A vibrant pool of research-oriented resident faculty, robust academic partnerships, a thriving alumni network, the backing of an influential board, and the guidance of the industry’s thought leadership have enabled ISB to fast emerge and consolidate itself as a premier global business school that grooms future leaders for India and the world.