Mahindra doesn’t looks unstoppable and neither his employees. Dr. Pawan Goenka, Executive Director & President, Automotive & Farm Equipment Sectors, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., is now appointed as the Chairman of the Board of Governors at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras. The appointment was made by the Honourable President of India in his capacity as Visitor of the Institute, and is for a period of 3 years with effect from 9th June, 2014.
As the Chairman of the Board of Governors, Dr. Goenka will preside over all Board meetings, helping promote the policy advocacy priorities of the IIT Madras. In this capacity, Dr. Goenka will also advise the Board of Governors and senior IIT-M management on a wide range of issues. He takes over as Chairman from the illustrious Prof. M.M. Sharma, Padma Vibhushan, member of the Scientific Advisory Council of the Prime Minister, and doyen of Indian academia, who brought a sharp focus to research at IITM during his tenure.
Speaking on the appointment, Prof. Bhaskar Ramamurthi, Director, IIT Madras said, “We are delighted to announce the appointment of Dr. Pawan Goenka as the Chairman of the Board. An alumnus of IIT Kanpur, Dr. Goenka is an internationally acknowledged scientist manager with several citations to his credit. A stalwart of the automobile industry, he has spearheaded various prestigious industry bodies and I am certain he will add tremendous value to this role as well”.
Dr. Pawan Goenka stated, “It is an honour and I am humbled to have been appointed Chairman of the Board of Governors of IIT Madras. I am looking forward to working with the Director of the Institute, Prof. Ramamurthi and the Board to contribute towards the Institute’s goals of building Scientific & Engineering excellence, incubating innovation and encouraging entrepreneurship. Going forward, I am banking on the support from the Board and active participation from the student & alumni fraternity for adding sheen to an institute with an already outstanding pedigree and reputation.”
With this appointment, Dr. Pawan Goenka joins a prestigious list of 12 Chairmen who have preceded him.