Ramanan Raghavendran has been appointed chair of the University of Pennsylvania's board of trustees. He succeeds Scott L. Bok, who served as chair since July 2021, before stepping down in December 2023.
A Penn alumnus, Raghavendran is the managing partner and co-founder of Amasia, a global venture capital firm focused on climate and sustainability.
Hailing Raghavendran’s appointment an “inspiring choice” Penn interim president J. Larry Jameson said, “With three Penn degrees, devoted University engagement in multiple leadership roles, and professional experience in a rapidly changing business environment, he is poised to partner with other distinguished Trustees to support our university’s important and impactful missions.”
“Having worked closely with Ramanan as a member of the Executive Committee, I have seen first-hand his passion for and commitment to Penn. He is someone who listens with intention and invests deeply in relationships,” said Julie Beren Platt who has been serving as interim chair and will return to her role as vice chair.
Commenting on his appointment, Raghavendran said, “I believe great American universities, like the University of Pennsylvania, are the most important repositories of all that defines, and is good and laudable about, our modern civilization. I am honored to take on the role of Chair of Penn’s Board of Trustees.”
Raghavendran’s career in venture capital and growth equity spans more than 30 years. He has held investing roles at General Atlantic, Insight Partners, TH Lee Putnam Ventures and Kubera Partners. He began his professional career at McKinsey & Company.
He currently serves on the board of SF Goodwill and also serves on the advisory council of the Natural Capital Project at Stanford University. Over the last three decades Raghavendran has been a seed funder and board member of several NGOs and maintains a close affiliation with Magic Bus, which works with 500,000 at-risk children in South Asia.
He became a university trustee in 2014, was appointed chair of the local, national and global engagement committee in 2020, and joined the executive committee in 2022. Additionally he has served on the School of Arts and Sciences board of advisors since 2012, becoming chair in 2022.
Raghavendran is also a member of the advisory board for the Center for the Advanced Study of India and the Global Coordinator of the Penn Alumni Ambassador Program.
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