We are delighted to welcome Dr. A.V. Arunkumar as the Professor and Dean of Academic Affairs, effective October 8, 2024. Prof. Arunkumar brings over 30 years of diverse experience in teaching, research, and industry, showcasing his strong leadership and expertise in academic administration and business program management. Prof. Arunkumar holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC), Bengaluru, under an RBI doctoral fellowship. In addition to his M.Phil. and National Eligibility Test (NET) qualifications, he has completed a Certification in Management from the Asian Institute of Management, Manila, and a certification in MSME Credit from leading international institutions. He is also certified in Financial Risk Management by the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment (CISI), London, and has participated in over 200 advanced training programs worldwide, focusing on finance, banking, policy, leadership, and administration. Prof. Arunkumar’s professional journey began in academia, followed by roles as a Research Fellow and Deputy Director at the Centre for Budget and Policy Studies (CBPS), Bengaluru. His industry experience includes senior leadership roles, such as Assistant General Manager – Economist at the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), and key executive positions like Deputy General Manager (DGM) and General Manager (GM) in credit and risk management, which are core functional areas of banking. He later served as the Head of Risk Management at a leading public sector commercial bank in India and as Chief Risk Officer (CRO) for commercial and international banks in India and the Middle East. Throughout his career, Prof. Arunkumar has demonstrated exceptional leadership by managing large teams, overseeing policy development, implementing credit programs, and advancing financial risk management practices. He has led cross-functional teams, supervised large-scale projects, and introduced policies and processes to enhance operational efficiency. As an academic administrator, Prof. Arunkumar has a proven track record of managing undergraduate and postgraduate business programs, with a focus on skill-oriented curricula and experiential learning. His leadership in academic administration has resulted in the development of programs that effectively blend theoretical knowledge with practical applications, ensuring students are well-prepared for the business world. His classroom teaching emphasizes the practical application of concepts, fostering an engaging and stimulating learning environment. Prof. Arunkumar is passionate about teaching subjects related to banking, finance, risk management, development policy, and economics, and has been a visiting faculty member at various training academies and centers for banking and finance during his tenure in the financial sector. His research interests include access to credit, technology, policy for small enterprises, microfinance, development banking, sustainable finance, and digital financial inclusion. His academic contributions are reflected in his working papers, journal articles, book chapters, and books. He is also a regular commentator on financial and economic issues in mainstream newspapers. With his vast experience, leadership acumen, and dedication to academic excellence, Prof. Arunkumar is poised to make significant contributions to our institution. We warmly welcome Prof. (Dr.) A.V. Arunkumar to our academic community!