Top accreditations
Currently the Vice Principal, Dr. G R Damodaran College of Science and Director / Professor – GRD Institute of Management and School of Commerce & International Business.
A Triumvirate in Management, International Business and Commerce. Has a double Ph.D. in Marketing and Management. A Fulbright fellow of USA. Fellow of Chartered Management Institute (UK).
Honoured with a ‘Visiting Professorship’ from the globally-renowned University of Southampton, UK, a part of the Russell Group. Honoured with an ‘Adjunct Professorship’ with Saito University College, Malaysia.
Has completed a prestigious list of advanced training with top – flight Institutions:
A program on “Building Excellence in professional Higher Educational Institutions” at the Indian School of Business.
- A program on “Building Excellence in professional Higher Educational Institutions” at the Indian School of Business .
- “Case Method Teaching” with the Harvard Business Publishing.
- He has been Certified by Dr.Philip Kotler for learning “The Future of Marketing”.
- He has been Certified by John W Mullins London School of Business on Entrepreneurship.
- Management Development Program and Faculty Development Program with the Indian Institute of Management.
- Gallup Certified Strength Coach.
- Trained on “Using Blended MOOCs in Management Education” from IIM, Bangalore.
- Trained on “Re-Energizing the Classroom: Using Experiential Activities and Gamification to Enhance Learning & Engagement”, from IIT–Madras
- He has been trained and certified in Design Thinking from the School of Design Thinking.
Has a number of publications to his credit, authored a book on “From Campus to Corporate” and “Business Communication” through Pearson and Macmillan, one of the largest and best known international publishers and has also got more than 100 Publication to his credit.
He has contributed more than 8 chapters in 6 well-regarded books, has published several research papers in Scopus, Web of Science, and UGC journals and has written for a large number of publications in India’s leading newspapers like Times of India and Hindu.
Has carried out a large quantum of research work and has guided 18 M.Phil. & 23 Ph.D. scholars in their varied thesis on commerce, marketing and management. He has served as a Ph.D. thesis external examiner and evaluator for top-graded universities in Australia, UK, Oman, Malaysia and India.
He has 7 approved and published patents, five from India and two from the UK.
Has contributed significantly in shaping an educational hub, which today is the most sought after space for higher education specifically towards Commerce, International Business and Management. This institution today stands out for the exposure it gives students, the energy with which it advances education and the creativity it brings to a global mindset.
Awarded with 2 Fellowships from the US Department of State and 2 Fellowship from the United Kingdom.
Has been selected by the United States department, Bureau of education and cultural affairs for the International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP). It is the U.S. Department of states premier professional program. The three week program was on “Education Today” which provides insights on the tremendous diversity, Best practices and challenges of the U.S. Education system and the current issues in education.
Acknowledged as an accomplished and prolific academic organizer who has initiated several innovative forums for the comprehensive and wholesome development of students. These methodologies are the first of their kind. Organized on campus summits and long-term outstation conferences involving prominent personalities like Dr.APJ Abdul Kalam, Kiran Bedi, Dr.J.J. Irani, Kapil Dev, Sunita W illiams, Jonty Rhodes, Jeff hoffman, Vijay Amritraj and several other eminent professionals and luminaries from various fields. Is also the curator of the TEDx event held on campus at Coimbatore.
Has served as a member of Department of Information and Broadcasting ministry as a member of the Indian Censor Board.
Had served with CII Regional and at the National Committee on higher Education for two terms. Have also served in the CII National Higher Education Committee on Employability and Partnership.
A Senate member (two terms) of Bharathiar University, Co-ordinator of IGNOU, a Member of the International Advisory Board of Journal of Business and Diplomatic Studies of South East Asia. Chairman of the Board of Studies, Member of the Academic Council and a Member of Governing Council, a Member of Doctoral Committees and a member of various Examination boards and also an Expert Member of NCERT.
Served as an Expert member of the Faculty recruitment panel of NALSAR University of Law and has been an Expert evaluation for Promotions in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and has also served as a Chairman Examination of Several boards.
Is a prolific contributor to leading newspapers in India on the topic of education, its unique responsibilities in a country with a very young work force, on the topic of education to leading newspapers in India, and its unique responsibility and challenges in a country with a very young youth bank. His writing appears regularly in The Hindu and The Times of India. Maintains a widely-followed blog and enjoys a huge loyalty-readership on the portal Brandthinkmarketingdo.com.
Has obtained grants from UGC, AICTE, EDII, IREDA, Federal Assistance Grant – USA for several Projects and Initiatives. Currently engaged in
- WaterLab India – at the University of Southampton
- Towards a Bright Future-Enabling Enrolment, Education and Empowerment of Out of School Children (OoSC) in Rural India – at the University of Southampton
- A study on Kanagan Lake turn around and best practices pertaining towards a Lake – at the University of Southampton
Has travelled widely in pursuit of his academic interests and participated in various international conferences to share and enrich his thirst for knowledge. Chaired many International Conferences and delivered high profile lectures and key note addresses at several top universities across the globe.
Consults on Entrepreneurship, Brand Management, Education, Career Management, Social Media and has acquired considerable expertise from his long -standing association with leading firms.
Hosted and Chaired 10 International Conferences involving delegates from several countries.
Has developed a model on employability / entrepreneurial skills for the students and has placed students in campus with companies like E&Y, JP Morgan, McKinsey, Citi Bank, Cafe Coffe Day and with some overseas companies too.
Worked on an enrollment model and has contributed towards the growth of the enrollment in a very big way. Had mapped the best practices from different parts of the world and has formulated and developed innovative relevant futuristic curriculum. Had articulated many National and International collaboration for the knowledge of the students.
Has been richly awarded. Latest awards are:
- Award for Best Management Educator – World Management Congress (2009)
- Award for Best Professor in Marketing, Global Awards for Excellence in Education, Leadership & Teaching – World Education Congress (2012)
- Award for Achievement of Trade from the UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE in recognition of his services in expanding U.S. India Trade Partnerships (2013)
- Innovative Leader Award at the world Marketing Summit, Malaysia from Golden Star Academic & Educational Excellence Award (2013)
- Award for Teaching Excellence – Indus Foundation, Indo – American Education Summit (2016)
- Award for Most Iconic Personality In Education & Nation Building – Topnotch Foundation, Global Education Achievement Awards 2023
- Award for “Research Engagement Award”, Thailand Conference on Diversified Science (TCODS – 2023), Bangkok University, Bangkok, Thailand (2023)
Has initiated and strategized a significant number of impactful social initiatives and has made a difference in the lives of some people and toward the society. Notable schemes includes the GIVEWHATUCAN campaign, GRD Swachhathon campaign, Chennai Floods and many other acclaimed programmes.
Has been a certified Gallup strength coach and has been singularly responsible for the academic and personal transformation of many youngsters.
Has been mentoring students and faculty for three decades.