Professor M. Rammohan Rao graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Madras (1962), followed by a Master of Engineering in Industrial Engineering from Cornell University (1964), an M.S. in Industrial Administration (1968), and a Ph.D. (1969) from Carnegie Mellon University. Internationally trained in Industrial Administration and Operations Research, he later received global recognition for his scholarly contributions, including the prestigious Dantzig–Fulkerson Prize (2000) awarded by the Mathematical Programming Society and the American Mathematical Society.

Before assuming leadership at IIM Bangalore, Professor Rao served as a tenured Full Professor of Operations Research at the Stern School of Business, New York University (1986–1994). Earlier in his career, he held academic and research positions at the University of Rochester, was associated with the U.S. Steel Applied Research Laboratory in Pittsburgh, and served as Research Fellow at the Centre for Operations Research and Econometrics (CORE), Leuven, Belgium, and at the International Institute of Management, Berlin. He joined IIMB in 1975 as faculty in Operations Research/Transportation, later serving as Dean before becoming Director. After his tenure at IIMB, he went on to serve as Dean of the Indian School of Business (ISB) (2004–2009), during which ISB achieved global top-20 rankings in the Financial Times.

Professor Rao’s academic specialization lay in operations research, optimization, transportation, financial derivatives, and industrial administration. Over his career, he published more than 90 articles in professional journals and undertook consultancy assignments for several organisations.

Throughout his career at IIMB, Professor Rao taught extensively in the Post Graduate Program (PGP) and was actively engaged in Executive Development Programs (EDPs). During his Directorship, he oversaw the launch of the Post Graduate Program in Software Enterprise Management (PGSM), (August 1998) responding to Bangalore’s emergence as a global IT hub; expansion of international student exchange and global project exposure for PGP students; and the strengthening of Executive Education offerings. The PGSM initiative reflected his belief that each IIM must build programs aligned with its regional and industry strengths.

A defining feature of Professor Rao’s tenure was institution building through new centres and programs:

• N. S. Raghavan Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning (NSRCEL): Established in in 1999 -- 2000 with major funding from Infosys founder N. S. Raghavan, following sustained industry engagement
• Centre for Public Policy (CPP): Established during his tenure in July 2000, later leading to the Post Graduate Program in Public Policy and Management (PGPPM)

These initiatives reflected his philosophy of “excellence through partnership,” building strong industry and government linkages without compromising institutional autonomy.

Professor Rao held numerous national and international leadership positions, including President, Association of Indian Management Schools (AIMS); President, Operations Research Society of India; Chairman, All India Board of Management Studies; Chairperson, Derivatives Market Review Committee (Securities and Exchange Board of India -- SEBI); Member, IRDA (Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority) Advisory Committee; and Member, NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council) Executive Committee (nominated by MHRD). He also served on advisory boards and governing councils of several institutions. In 2001, he was named “CEO of the Year” by the Indian Institute of Materials Management. Other honours include the Ravi J. Mathai National Fellowship Award (2003); the AIMA – Kewal Nohria Award for Academic Leadership (2013); and multiple Lifetime Achievement awards in Operations Research and Management Education.

Professor Rao believed that research must underpin teaching excellence, and laid the groundwork for a stronger research culture. During his term as Director, he sought to encourage publication in internationally recognised journals; strengthen faculty development funding; build research orientation among younger faculty; and promote financial self-sufficiency to ensure academic autonomy.

During his tenure, IIMB achieved the distinction of being ranked No. 1 in India by the Business Today–Cosmode Survey. As Director, Professor Rao emphasised autonomy, financial prudence -- he maintained that institutions must minimise dependence on government funding, and strategic partnerships. He worked closely with Chairman S. M. Datta and described the Board as supportive in strategic initiatives.

His leadership approach balanced firmness with intellectual clarity. Professor Rao often reflected on institutional evolution from the sectoral focus of the 1970s to a globally competitive orientation. He believed that mindset transformation was crucial: if IIMB sought global recognition, it had to publish in top international journals. He summarised academic visibility in three dimensions: Teaching excellence builds student recognition; Consulting builds corporate recognition; and Publishing builds international recognition.

Professor Rao’s career reflects a rare combination of international scholarly distinction, institutional leadership, and a sustained commitment to strengthening management education in India through rigour, autonomy, and strategic partnerships.

Link to an account of the launch of the IIMB Golden Jubilee publication, ‘The Evolution of IIMB: Directors’ Perspectives’
https://www.iimb.ac.in/archives/directors-perspectives.php

For more from “The Evolution of IIMB: Directors’ Perspectives”, which features interviews with former Directors Professors J. Philip, K. R. S. Murthy, M. Rammohan Rao, Prakash G. Apte and Sushil Vachani, and a foreword by the then Director Professor G. Raghuram, and an essay (reproduced from an earlier collection) by the first Director Professor N. S. Ramaswamy visit

( https://www.iimb.ac.in/archives/directors-perspectives.php )

Click to read the book : https://www.iimb.ac.in/sites/default/files/directors-perspectives/#p=1

Link to films commemorating IIMB’s Golden Jubilee in 2023
https://www.iimb.ac.in/archives/video-library.php

For a round table discussion on management education published in 1998, featuring the perspectives of the directors of IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore and IIM Calcutta, Professors Jahar Saha, Pradip Khandwalla, M. R. Rao, K. R. S. Murthy, Amitava Bose and Subir Chowdhury refer to:
Venkatesh, S (1998) "Management education: In prospect and retrospect: A view from the helm – IIM directors' perspective," IIMB Management Review: Vol. 10: Iss. 1, Article 18. Available at :
https://research.iimb.ac.in/imr/vol10/iss1/18