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Poets&Quants Names New Leadership Team

OAKLAND, Calif., March 2, 2026 – Poets&Quants, the premier independent media outlet for graduate business education, has recently announced significant changes in its leadership team. The founder, John A. Byrne, is stepping down from his influential role, concluding a remarkable journey that has significantly impacted the discourse surrounding MBA and graduate business programs worldwide. The selection of a new leadership team signifies Poets&Quants' commitment to a new phase of growth and innovation in business education coverage.

Transition in Leadership

Sat Sharma has been appointed as the new Managing Director, with Marc Ethier taking over as Editor-in-Chief, and Pola Lem joining as Executive Editor. This transition marks an important evolution in the publication's leadership dynamics.

John A. Byrne's Legacy
John Byrne, who established Poets&Quants in 2010, has worked tirelessly to position the institution as a standard bearer in business education media. His efforts have led Poets&Quants to become one of the most recognized and trusted voices in the industry, reaching millions of readers globally. Reflecting on his career, Byrne expressed pride in the role Poets&Quants has played in helping aspiring students realize their dreams.

Byrne stated, "Launching Poets&Quants was a bet that graduate management education deserved an independent, authoritative voice. What began as a scrappy startup has become the world's leading platform on business education because readers trusted us. I'm excited to see our new team build on that foundation and take it to the next level."

The New Leadership Team

1. Sat Sharma - Managing Director

A well-respected veteran in higher education, Sat Sharma has been involved with Poets&Quants for over 15 years and has been integral to its strategic growth. In his new role as Managing Director, Sharma will steer the organization towards expanded global reach and enhance partnerships with various stakeholders in the business education landscape. "Poets&Quants sits at the center of the business education ecosystem, and we will deepen collaborations while ensuring innovative ways for schools to connect with top candidates," Sharma remarked.

2. Marc Ethier - Editor-in-Chief

Marc Ethier, who has spent ten years as the managing editor, is set to bring his extensive experience in business education journalism to the position of Editor-in-Chief. Ethier believes in the publication's commitment to trustworthiness and intelligent journalism. He will continue to develop in-depth coverage that resonates within the global business education community. Currently, he is exploring the implications of artificial intelligence within elite business schools and hopes to continue the legacy of educational excellence established by Byrne.

3. Pola Lem - Executive Editor

Pola Lem's addition to Poets&Quants reflects a forward-thinking approach towards editorial strategies and audience engagement. Lem brings valuable experience from her previous role at The Grocer, and she will focus on innovating multimedia content that meets the evolving demands of prospective business school students and institutions alike. "Joining Poets&Quants is a privilege, and I'm eager to connect with industry stakeholders while enhancing our reach both in the US and globally," said Lem.

Vision for the Future

Together, the new leadership team is tasked with steering Poets&Quants into an exciting future. Their goals include:

• - Expanding multimedia and video storytelling
• - Enhancing global coverage for a wider audience reach
• - Developing innovative data and AI-driven insights
• - Strengthening partnerships with leading business schools and industry organizations

Poets&Quants remains dedicated to its mission of providing independent and reliable coverage that empowers potential students and showcases the achievements of business schools. As a part of Times Higher Education, Poets&Quants aims to remain the go-to resource for comprehensive insights on graduate business education, offering authoritative content, rankings, news features, podcasts, and events that shape the educational landscape for aspiring business leaders everywhere.

In summary, Poets&Quants is entering a promising new chapter under its newly appointed leadership team and is eager to push the boundaries of business education journalism.