Announcement of Leadership Transition in the Batten Institute
By Bob Harris, Darden School Dean

August 6, 2004

Dear Colleagues,

It is with mixed emotions I announce that Bob Bruner (Distinguished Professor of Business Administration) has chosen to step down as Executive Director of the Batten Institute at the completion of his term on August 31, 2004. As founding Executive Director, Bob has created an impressive array of activities and accomplishments. His dedication, leadership and professionalism has spurred the Institute and served all of us here at Darden. Bob will be working on yet another book as part of a research leave and then be back in the Darden classroom in the spring. Please join me in thanking and congratulating Bob on a job well done. We will miss his superb leadership in the Institute. We welcome him back to full-time teaching and writing.

I’m pleased to announce that Jeanne Liedtka (Johnson and Higgins Research Associate Professor of Business Administration) will succeed Bob effective September 1, 2004. Jeanne’s background is especially well suited to pursue the Institute’s priorities over the coming years. A top priority will be increasing the School’s and Institute’s capability and recognition in the field of corporate transformation and business innovation in established organizations. This is a natural out growth of the Institute’s mission and builds on our existing strengths created in the area of entrepreneurship. Our goal is to have international impact and be recognized for our work in both innovation in established corporations and entrepreneurship in creating new companies. This work will bring distinction to both the Institute and our School. Jeanne’s background as Chief Learning Office of United Technologies and her innovative work in strategy, make her particularly well positioned to lead our efforts. Venkat will retain his role as Research Director of the Institute working closely with Jeanne and the rest of the Batten Institute team.

A public announcement of Batten’s leadership transition will be made next week.

Please join me in congratulating Jeanne and supporting her in this new leadership role. Early in the school year I will ask Jeanne to address the faculty to outline her priorities and plans for the Institute.

Best regards,
Bob Harris

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