Ajay Anand, a seasoned industry leader, has been selected as the inaugural Executive in Residence at the Wharton AI & Analytics Initiative (WAIAI) at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. This prestigious appointment aims to bridge the gap between academic AI research and real-world business challenges.
As the Senior Vice President of Global Services, Strategy, and Business Services at Johnson & Johnson, Anand brings over 26 years of experience in driving transformation across consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and telecommunications. His role at WAIAI will involve advising faculty, mentoring students, and guiding AI research to align with business needs.
The newly launched Executive in Residence program at WAIAI is designed to bring top industry professionals into the heart of Wharton’s AI initiatives. Selected executives from leading global organizations will collaborate with students and faculty, contributing their expertise to accelerate AI-driven innovations. Anand, alongside Achim Welter, Senior Director of ERP, Digital & IT Strategy at The Hershey Company, will be the first professionals to take on this role.
Their contributions will extend beyond mentorship, including keynote speeches at major AI conferences, expert panel discussions, and judging competitions such as WAIAI Hack-AI-thons and the Venture Lab Startup Challenge. Wharton’s statement emphasized that Anand’s vast experience and strategic vision make him well-suited to shaping the future of AI education and research at the institution.
Anand earned a Master’s in Computer Science from Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, and an MBA from Drexel University, Philadelphia. His leadership at WAIAI is expected to inspire the next generation of AI pioneers, strengthening the program’s impact on academia and industry alike.
