Deepender Hooda has been named the Poling chair of business and government at the Kelley School of Business.
A Kelley School of Business alumnus, Hooda has been a member of India’s parliament since 2005, according to an IU press release.
Poling chair recipients are responsible for stimulating discussion in the areas of leadership, enterprise competitiveness, economic growth and the interactions between public and private sectors regarding public policy, according to the release.
As a Poling chair recipient, Hooda will periodically visit the Kelley School of Business at IU-Bloomington and IU-Purdue University Indianapolis to interact with students and faculty.
“I’m excited at the prospect of being back in Bloomington after a span of about 12 years,” Hooda said in the release. “I’m thankful to Indiana University and the Kelley School for providing me with this wonderful opportunity to give back, though in a relatively small measure, to the institution that added, and continues to add, great value to my life journey.”
Idalene Kesner, Kelley School of Business dean, said in the release Hooda was engaged in the business school experience when he was her student while studying for his MBA.
“He represents the leadership talent that Kelley produces,” Kesner said in the release. “He took the skills he learned here and made major contributions to his country, and we are very proud and excited that he has accepted this opportunity to share his unique international perspective with today’s Kelley students.”
Hooda became the youngest member of the lower house of India’s parliament in 2005, where he represents Rohtak, a city in the state of Haryana, according to the release. He was re-elected for a third term last year by a record margin.
Hooda serves as the Indian National Congress’ party whip. He also leads the Indian National Congress’ national digital and social communications and is relaunching its website and creating its Facebook, Twitter and other social media accounts.
He also serves as a member of parliament’s standing committee on energy, according to the release. He has previously served on similar committees on finance, external affairs, agriculture and human resource development.
From the private sector, previous poling chairs have included Bob Eckert, CEO of Mattel Inc., and Randall Tobias, chairman emeritus of Eli Lilly and Co., former vice chairman of AT&T Corp. and chairman of the IU Board of Trustees, according to the release.
From the public sector, previous poling chairs have included Samuel Skinner, former United States secretary of transportation and chief of staff to former President George H. W. Bush, and Gen. Peter Pace, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, according to the release.
The late Harold “Red” Poling, a business school alumnus and chairman and CEO of Ford Motor Co., established the poling chair in 1993.
Ashleigh Sherman
