Andrew Ainslie has been named the seventh dean of the University of Rochester’s Simon Business School, University President Joel Seligman announced today. The appointment has been approved by the University Board of Trustees and is effective after Dean Mark Zupan’s term ends on June 30.
“I am delighted that Andrew Ainslie has accepted this appointment. He has had an outstanding career at UCLA Anderson School of Management,” Seligman said. “He will be an outstanding dean. He is a creative and dynamic leader in business education.”
Ainslie has been senior associate dean, full-time MBA program, at UCLA Anderson School of Management since 2010. He has responsibility for admissions, student services, and career placement.
“The Simon Business School has an incredible history,” Ainslie said. “It has been at the forefront of an analytic, rigorous approach to business from its inception, and today the business community is just beginning to understand the importance of that approach. I am delighted to take on this opportunity.”
During his tenure as associate dean for the full-time MBA program at UCLA Anderson, the school has increased its admissions more than 60 percent, increased placements more than 20 percent, and revised its curriculum.
“Andrew Ainslie has had practical experience in multiple phases of business. His emphasis is on faculty quality, admissions and career placement. He should be a great fit for Simon,” said Ed Hajim, chair of the University’s Board of Trustees.
Ainslie has been associate professor of marketing at UCLA Anderson since 2005; he was assistant professor of marketing there from 2000 to 2005. From 1997 through 2000 he was assistant professor of marketing at Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management.
Before beginning his academic career, Ainslie had a ten-year career in business, including as an electrical engineer for AECI (South Africa), sales and marketing for Hewlett Packard (South Africa), corporate finance with Standard Merchant Bank, and marketing and development for Compustat.
“Andrew Ainslie impressed us with his leadership experience, his commitment to the research mission, and his farsighted approach to the challenges facing all MBA programs,” said Trustee Janice Willett ’78 (MBA), chair of the Trustees and Friends Advisory Committee for the search.
Provost Peter Lennie said he looks forward to working with Ainslie. “He will be a great addition to our academic leadership team. His analytical and collaborative style will complement our strengths.”
Ainslie received a B.Sc. in electrical engineering from the University of Cape Town in 1983 and an MBA in marketing from Cape Town in 1990. He received a Ph.D. in marketing and statistics from Chicago Booth in 1998.
“Mark Zupan leaves an inspiring legacy,” Seligman said. “Under his leadership, Simon has reversed the decline in MBA enrollment, created several successful new master’s programs, and met its targets for endowment draw for several years running. It is a significant record of achievement. Mark deserves our gratitude for a job well done.”
Zupan, dean since 2004, plans a sabbatical after which he will become the John M. Olin Distinguished Professor of Economics and Public Policy and Director of the Bradley Policy Research Center at Simon.
“We conducted an extensive national search. I want to thank two outstanding committees: the search committee and the trustees and friends advisory committee, as well as the many others who interviewed the finalists,” Seligman said.
The search committee consisted of Joel Seligman (chair), James Brickley, Robert Clark, Paul Ellickson, Phillip Lederer, Robert Novy-Marx, Michael Raith, Abraham (Avi) Seidmann, Greg Shaffer, Toni Whited, Joanna Wu, Jerold Zimmerman, Lamar Murphy (staff to the committee).
The trustees and friends advisory committee members included Janice Willett (chair), Peter Simon, Mark Ain, Mike Ryan, Evans Lam, Ron Fielding, and Colleen Wegman.
