Venkatesh Shankar

Venkatesh (Venky) Shankar is a prominent academic in the field of marketing, currently serving as the Coleman Chair Professor in Marketing and Director of Research at the Center for Retailing Studies at Mays Business School, Texas A&M University. He specializes in various areas including Digital Business, Marketing Strategy, Innovation, Retailing, and International Marketing.

Educational Background

• B.Tech in Engineering: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur (1984)
• MBA: Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Calcutta (1986)
• Ph.D. in Marketing: Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University (1995)

Career Highlights

Shankar's career began at the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland, where he progressed to an associate professor role before moving to Texas A&M University in 2004. At Texas A&M, he has held several key positions, including:

• Director of the Marketing PhD Program
• Academic Trustee for the Marketing Science Institute
• Visiting Scholar at prestigious institutions such as MIT and Stanford University

In October 2022, he transitioned to a new role as the Ford Chair in Marketing & E-Commerce at Texas A&M after serving as the Coleman Chair for nearly two decades.

Research and Contributions

Dr. Shankar is widely recognized for his contributions to marketing research and education. He has been awarded numerous accolades, including:

• The Retailing Lifetime Achievement Award (2013-2014)
• The Vijay Mahajan Award for Lifetime Contributions to Marketing Strategy Research (2012)
• The Robert Clarke Award for Outstanding Direct and Interactive Marketing Educator (2006)

He has published extensively in top-tier academic journals such as the Journal of Marketing Research, Management Science, and Harvard Business Review. His work has made significant impacts on understanding marketing dynamics in digital contexts, pricing strategies, and consumer behavior.

Recognition

Shankar has been recognized as one of the Top 1% of Marketing Scientists and listed among the World’s Most Influential Scientific Minds. He is also noted for his leadership roles within various marketing associations, including serving on editorial boards and councils.

Personal Insights

Beyond academia, Dr. Shankar has consulted for numerous high-profile companies across various sectors, including IBM, Microsoft, and PepsiCo. His insights into marketing strategy and innovation continue to influence both academic thought and practical applications in business.

In summary, Venkatesh Shankar is a leading figure in marketing education and research with a distinguished career marked by significant contributions to both theory and practice in the field.