#USA #Reston #Graduate Management Admission Council #GMAC #UC Riverside

GMAC Strengthens Leadership and Membership to Adapt to Evolving Business Education Needs

The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), the global association of leading graduate business schools, has recently unveiled significant changes to its board of directors and membership that enhance its commitment to talent development within the business education sector. In a notable announcement made from Reston, Virginia, on July 17, 2025, GMAC revealed the outcomes of its latest board elections and the addition of a new member school.

Catherine Duggan, who has been serving on the GMAC board since 2022 and is the Dean of the Graduate School of Business at the University of Cape Town, has been appointed as the new board chair. Duggan's leadership is expected to guide GMAC through a transformative period marked by changes in talent mobility, technological advancement, and a renewed focus on skill development in the business education landscape.

Joining Duggan on the board are David Bach, President of the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Switzerland; Jake Cohen, Senior Associate Dean of the Sloan School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT); and Ian Fenwick, Director of the Sasin School of Management at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand. Furthermore, Ana María Zermeño Padilla, who has been part of the board since 2023 and is the Director of Academic Experience and Operations at EGADE Business School of Tecnológico de Monterrey in Mexico, has been reelected for a full term.

Resetting its composition, the board acknowledges the efforts of outgoing president Themin Suwardy from Singapore Management University, who will continue to contribute as an ex officio member for one year. The council also expressed gratitude to departing members Martin Boehm from Hult International Business School and Giuseppe Soda from Bocconi University for their valued service.

With the addition of the University of California, Riverside School of Business as its 228th member institution, GMAC emphasizes its mission to expand its talent pipeline. The new member school boasts state-of-the-art facilities and a diverse portfolio of master's programs, showcasing its commitment to specialized and comprehensive business education. By joining GMAC, UC Riverside recognizes the unique resources and global network that GMAC provides, aiming to uphold high academic standards while supporting ethical practices in business education.

As GMAC welcomes this new leadership and membership, it is also undergoing substantial innovations to remain relevant in the rapidly evolving business education landscape. Earlier this year, GMAC launched Advancery, an AI-powered tool designed to assist prospective students in their business education journey. This new platform personalizes the user experience by seamlessly connecting skill identification with program recommendations and application strategies. These initiatives aim to empower candidates to explore educational opportunities and develop their career aspirations, while simultaneously building a robust pipeline of domestic and international candidates for business schools.

Catherine Duggan highlighted the urgency and importance of GMAC's mission, stressing that the transformative power of graduate management education is more crucial than ever amidst complex environments and periods of uncertainty. She stated, “By selecting the right management program, students acquire skills that enable them to evolve as leaders and identify opportunities while managing risks in uniquely effective ways. That is exactly the kind of vision and agility that organizations require now and in the decades to come.”

The integration of fresh perspectives from the newly appointed board members and the additional school serves to reinforce GMAC's mission to connect talent with business education. This commitment aims to produce future leaders who are not only globally minded but also interculturally competent, helping to navigate the challenges of a dynamic world.

For more information about GMAC's mission, its board, and member schools, please visit GMAC.com.

Upcoming Events

• - Asia Conference, Hong Kong, October 29-31, 2025
• - Europe Conference, Madrid, November 19-21, 2025
• - Annual Conference, Philadelphia, June 10-12, 2026

In conclusion, the recent changes within GMAC reflect a proactive approach to the evolving needs of business education and the importance of effective leadership that adapts to emerging challenges and opportunities in the global landscape.