We are delighted to welcome Dr. A.V. Arunkumar as the Professor and new Dean of Academic Affairs, effective 8th October 2024. Prof. Arunkumar brings with him an impressive 30 years of diverse experience across teaching, research and industry, showcasing 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, sponsored through an RBI doctoral fellowship. In addition to his M.Phil. and National Eligibility Test (NET) qualifications, he completed his Certification course in Management from Asian Institute of Management, Manila and completed Certification in MSME credit from leading institutions abroad. He is also certified in Financial Risk Management by the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment (CISI), London. He participated in over 200 advanced training programs globally, focusing on finance, banking, policy, leadership and administration.
Prof. Arunkumar’s professional journey began as a faculty, followed by roles as a Research Fellow and Deputy Director at the Centre for Budget and Policy Studies (CBPS), Bengaluru. His career in industry spans senior leadership roles, including Assistant General Manager (AGM) – Economist at the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), and key executive positions such as Deputy General Manager (DGM) and General Manager (GM) in the credit and risk management areas, which are regarded as the core functional areas of Banking. Prof. Arunkumar, later functioned as the Head of Risk Management at a leading public sector commercial bank in India. He later served as Chief Risk Officer (CRO) for both commercial and international banks in India and the Middle East and widely travelled across India and abroad. During his work in industry, Prof. Arunkumar demonstrated exceptional leadership in managing large teams, overseeing policy development, direct lending programs, credit functions, and financial risk management. He has also led cross-functional teams, supervised large-scale projects, and introduced policies and processes that enhanced operational efficiency.
As a seasoned academic administrator, Prof. Arunkumar has a proven track record in managing undergraduate and postgraduate business programs, with particular focus on enhancing skill-oriented curricula and experiential learning. His leadership in academic administration has helped to develop programs that integrate both theoretical knowledge and practical applications, ensuring students are well-prepared for the business world. The class room interactions were given adequate focus on practical aspects of the subject under discussion. His passion for teaching subjects related to banking, finance, risk management, development policy and economics has also fostered a stimulating academic environment. In the industry itself, he had been a regular visiting faculty various training academies and centres of banking and finance during his stay as a financial sector executive.
Prof. Arunkumar’s research covers areas such as access to credit, technology, policy for small enterprises, microfinance, development banking, sustainable finance and digital financial inclusion. His contributions to academia are reflected in his working papers, journal articles, book chapters, and books. He is also a regular commentator on financial and economic matters in mainstream newspapers. With his vast experience, leadership acumen, and dedication to academic excellence, Prof. Arunkumar is set to make significant contributions to our institution.
We welcome Prof. (Dr.) A.V. Arunkumar to our academic community!
