Harvard Business School Names New Dean

Harvard Business School (HBS) on Monday announced it has selected Jay O. Light, the school’s acting dean for the past eight months, to be its newest dean, according to the group’s April 24 release.

Light, who has been with HBS since 1970, is an expert in the fields of finance and investment management, as well as the school’s Dwight P. Robinson Jr. professor of business administration. He stepped into the acting dean position after Kim B. Clark departed on Aug. 1.

The news was announced by Harvard University President Lawrence Summers, who recently said he would be leaving his post.

“I am very pleased that Jay Light has agreed to become Dean,” Summers said in a statement. “He has done an outstanding job as Acting Dean, and no one is more familiar with the range of opportunities and challenges facing Harvard Business School or better prepared to guide the School in meeting them.”

During his tenure as acting dean, Light managed the successful completion of HBS’ $600 million campaign, the launch of a handful of new faculty health-care and science-based business initiatives and the renovation of the school’s Baker Library, according to the release.

Light holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering physics with highest honors from Cornell University and a DBA from Harvard’s joint program in decision and control theory.

He is also a director of the Harvard Management Company, which manages investment of the university’s endowment.

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