IIM Bangalore signs MoU with alum Mathew Cyriac to set up country’s first Global Centre of Excellence on PE & Venture Capital
Named after legendary investment banker Tony James, the Centre aims to be a global thought leader for research in all matters relating to Private Equity and Venture Capital
24 August, 2024, Bengaluru: Professor U Dinesh Kumar, Dean, Faculty, at IIM Bangalore signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), this morning, with Mr Mathew Cyriac, Executive Chairman, Florintree Advisors Pvt Ltd and alumnus of the PGP Class of 1994, to pave the way to the setting up of a global Centre of Excellence, the Tony James Centre for Private Equity and Venture Capital, at IIM Bangalore.
Mr Tony James – former President, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice Chairman of New York-based global asset management firm Blackstone – is one of the most well-known investment bankers on Wall Street.
“This is the single largest ever contribution from an alumnus and we are grateful to Mathew not just for his generous support but for his extreme thoughtfulness in contributing to the naming of four classrooms on campus after faculty who taught his batch, and for his clarity in setting up scholarships for PGP and PhD students to continue excellent work in the area of finance,” said Professor Rishikesha T Krishnan, Director, IIM Bangalore, at the MoU exchange, adding that he hoped the Tony James Centre would make great impact, nationally and globally.
Mr Mathew Cyriac’s contribution is a powerful statement of the transformative impact that business school alumni can have on their alma mater and industry. Mr Cyriac believes that now is the perfect time for a top business school in India such as IIM Bangalore to take the lead in establishing a Centre of Excellence focused on private equity and venture capital. “My alma mater IIM Bangalore, which is a leader in the area of finance amongst the top business schools of the country, is naturally positioned to take the lead on this subject. I expect the Tony James Centre for Private Equity and Venture Capital at IIMB to emerge as a globally reputed ‘go-to’ place for all players interested in private equity as well as venture capital. It should be the kernel around which an ecosystem of academics, practitioners, investors and regulators gets developed,” he said.
The signing of the MoU was attended by top executives of Florintree including Mr Jayanta Banerjee, Executive Vice Chairman, Florintree Advisors Pvt Ltd, and IIMB alumni, faculty and staff.
Sharing that he has been involved with private equity in India from its early days since 1996 when DLJ opened its PE office in Bangalore, Mr Tony James said, “As a regular visitor since, I have watched Indian PE flourish. By providing entrepreneurs with the equity capital that they need to grow, private equity is a strong contributor to the vibrant Indian economy. The timing is right now for a Centre of Excellence at IIM Bangalore to bring the Indian perspective to global PE thought leadership. I look forward to working closely with IIM Bangalore to build the Centre into a world-class institution.”
From Class Topper to Alum Achiever
Mr Mathew Cyriac’s batchmate Mr S Parthasarathy, who is also the Chief Programme Officer, Executive Education Programmes at IIM Bangalore, said, “The Batch of 1994 will be proud to see the class toppers – Mathew and Jayanta – create a precious legacy.” Prof. G Shainesh, also from the Class of 1994, and Professor of Marketing at IIMB, said he was especially touched by Mr Mathew Cyriac’s thoughtful gesture of honoring faculty. The four classrooms on campus are named after Prof. PG Apte, Prof. Prasanna Chandra, Prof. S Sundararajan, and Prof. George Varughese – all of whom have been described as “exceptionally inspiring teachers”.
First-of-its-kind Centre in India
Private Equity and Venture Capital (PEVC) are more than just financial tools – they are engines that drive innovation, create jobs and foster economic growth.
The vision of the Tony James Centre is to be a global thought leader for research and education in all matters relating to Private Equity and Venture Capital.
The mission is to create an ecosystem wherein academics, practitioners and regulators collaborate to develop and nurture world-class Private Equity and Venture Capital talent.
The first-of-its kind Centre will serve as a hub for cutting-edge research, education and industry collaboration in the field of PEVC, where students will connect with industry leaders, gain hands-on insights, and explore the latest trends in PEVC. It will host globally renowned experts for annual lectures, spearhead research on critical industry issues, and foster collaboration between academia and industry. Its influence will stretch far beyond IIMB, contributing to the growth of the PEVC sector and making a lasting impact on both the Indian and global economies.
Prof. Sourav Mukherji, Dean, Alumni Relations & Development at IIM Bangalore, said the proposed Centre was a shining example of an alumnus giving back to his alma mater in a meaningful way. “We hope this initiative serves as an inspiration to other alumni to collaborate with IIM Bangalore,” he added.