LUCKNOW, April 21 -- The IIT Kanpur Foundation has announced the appointment of Deepak Raj as the new Chair of its board of directors. A recipient of the institute's distinguished alumnus award and an experienced financial leader, Raj takes on the role at a time of notable growth for the foundation. In this position, he will guide its strategic initiatives to advance the global mission of the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK), according to an official statement from the institute. He has over four decades of experience in global finance and philanthropy. He is also the founder of Raj Associates-a New Jersey-based private investment firm--and a former Director of Global Equity Research at Merrill Lynch. On the occasion, Rajeev Kumar Ranjan, President of the IITK Foundation, said, "His deep roots in global finance, along with his transformative leadership in the philanthropic sector, bring a rare level of governance to the Foundation." IIT-K director Prof Manindra Agrawal said, "A recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus Award, he embodies a deep understanding of IIT Kanpur's core values. We are confident that under his chairmanship, the foundation will reach new milestones in advancing the Institute's growth." Speaking on this occasion, Incoming Chair of IIT-K Foundation, Deepak Raj said, "IIT Kanpur laid the foundation for my professional journey, and it is a privilege to give back in this role. My aim is to connect our global alumni community with the institute's ambitious vision for the future. I look forward to working with Prof Manindra Agrawal, Rajeev Kumar Ranjan, and the entire board to further strengthen our alma mater."...