NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
New York, NY, April 8, 2025: New York University has named Harvard professor and digital strategy expert Bharat N. Anand as the next dean of the Leonard N. Stern School of Business. Anand will assume the role in August 2025, succeeding current dean Raghu Sundaram, who will step down at the end of his term.
Anand, a prominent figure at Harvard Business School (HBS), currently serves as Vice Provost for Advances in Learning and the Henry R. Byers Professor of Business Administration. During his tenure at Harvard, he has been instrumental in shaping the university’s digital learning landscape. He helped launch HBS Online in 2014 and played a critical role in Harvard’s pivot to online education during the COVID-19 pandemic. More recently, he chaired the university’s Generative AI Working Group for Teaching and Learning, further cementing his reputation as a forward-thinking academic leader.
“Bharat Anand brings strategic insight, global perspective, and a deeply collaborative spirit to this new role,” said NYU President Linda G. Mills in a statement. “He has an exceptional record of navigating complex challenges and pioneering innovative educational models.”
Anand, who was born in India, earned his undergraduate degree in economics from Harvard University, graduating magna cum laude, and went on to receive his Ph.D. in economics from Princeton University. His 2016 book, The Content Trap: A Strategist’s Guide to Digital Change, was widely acclaimed and named one of the top 10 business books of the year by Fast Company and Bloomberg. The book received the Axiom Business Book Silver Award for Best Business Theory.
In accepting the deanship, Anand expressed enthusiasm about joining the Stern community. “I’m deeply honored to be named dean of NYU Stern,” he said. “The school’s entrepreneurial spirit, global outlook, and academic excellence are truly inspiring. I look forward to working with faculty, students, and alumni to build on this strong foundation.”
His appointment marks a continuation of Stern’s tradition of strong leadership with global reach. Outgoing dean Raghu Sundaram, also of Indian origin, led the school through a period of strategic growth and innovation. Anand’s arrival is expected to strengthen Stern’s position as a leader in global business education and its efforts to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving digital and technological landscape.
