CAMBRIDGE: In a historic appointment, Sri Lankan-born Professor Gishan Dissanaike has been named the new Dean of Cambridge Judge Business School (CJBS), University of Cambridge, marking the first time in three decades that the University has selected an internal candidate for this prestigious position, following a rigorous international recruitment process. Prof. Dissanaike started his new role on December 1, 2024.
Prof. Dissanaike, a financial economist, currently holds the esteemed Adam Smith Professorship of Corporate Governance at the University of Cambridge. He had served as Interim Dean since July 2023, underscoring his profound insight into the institution’s inner workings and its academic ethos.
His academic journey began with a BA from the University of Peradeniya in Sri Lanka, after which he advanced his education at Cambridge’s Faculty of Economics and Trinity College, earning his MPhil and PhD in Economics. Prof. Dissanaike has also enriched his academic experience with a visiting faculty role at Cornell University and has provided expertise to a host of international corporations and regulatory bodies.
Over his 30-year tenure at Cambridge Judge, Prof. Dissanaike has been instrumental in shaping the school’s culture and values, imparting knowledge across its MBA, Master of Finance, and MPhil in Finance programmes. He has fostered significant ties with the alumni community, bolstering the school’s global network.
Expressing his vision for the school’s future, Prof. Dissanaike said: ““It will be a privilege to serve as the first home-grown dean of Cambridge Judge Business School, and to serve the institution that has been such an inspiration, as well as my academic home for several decades. I look forward to nurturing the relationships, ambitions and conversations that keep the Business School – and indeed Cambridge – at the top of its game, in terms of impact, research, global economic benefit and philanthropic endeavour. Cambridge Judge Business School will focus on responsible business, innovation, and leadership in a turbulent world, and continue to solve real-world problems that have a lasting impact on society.”
Under his leadership, CJBS is set to emphasize responsible business practices, innovation, and leadership strategies for an increasingly complex global environment, while maintaining its commitment to addressing real-world challenges with lasting societal impact.
