Akhil Damodaran, PhD, has joined Symbiosis Centre for Management and Human Resource Development (SCMHRD) as Director, further strengthening the leadership of one of India’s leading management institutions. Based in Pune, he will play a pivotal role in shaping SCMHRD’s academic vision, strategic direction, and institutional growth as it advances toward globally benchmarked, AI-enabled, and future-ready management education.

With over 17 years of experience spanning digital transformation, artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, and academic leadership, Akhil brings a rare blend of industry perspective and academic depth. Prior to this role, he served as Dean of the School of Management at IILM University, where he led large-scale curriculum transformation, embedded AI across teaching, learning, and assessment, and designed flexible, industry-integrated programs aligned with NEP, Industry 4.0, and evolving workforce needs. Under his leadership, nearly 60 percent of courses became AI-enabled, reflecting a strong commitment to digital-first and problem-solving-oriented education.

His professional journey includes impactful roles across telecommunications, IT, and higher education, including stints with Orange Business Services, Tata Communications, and UPES. At UPES, he headed the Emergent Business Vertical and played a key role in launching India’s first MBA in the Metaverse, along with programs in analytics, digital business, and entrepreneurship—successfully bridging academic rigor with real-world application.

Beyond academia, Akhil is the Founder & CEO of Elteridium, an AI- and blockchain-driven firm focused on public–private partnership (PPP) platforms, and serves on multiple advisory and governance boards. A TEDx speaker, ET awardee, and mentor associated with initiatives such as NITI Aayog’s Atal Tinkering Labs, he is widely recognized for thought leadership at the intersection of AI, policy, and education.

At SCMHRD, Akhil Damodaran is expected to lead strategic transformation, strengthen global accreditation and quality benchmarks, and embed AI-driven, experiential, and problem-centric learning—preparing future leaders with the agility, ethical grounding, and technological fluency required in a rapidly evolving global landscape.