Indian Institute of Management Calcutta has called for applications for a new director who, an advertisement says, “is expected to provide strong academic leadership”.

The present director, Anju Seth, will complete 65 years in January 2022 and the IIM Act, 2017, sets the age of director’s superannuation at 65.

Seth had relocated from the US and joined the institute in August 2018.

An official of the institute said the search has begun early so that “adequate time could be given to screen candidates”.

Those interested to apply have been asked to send their CV to the chairperson, search- cum-selection committee.

The advertisement says: “IIMC seeks to appoint a director to lead the institute in maintaining and extending its edge among peers and building higher visibility globally through greater collaboration with academia and industry.”

Last year, several teachers of the B-school had written to the Centre and the institute’s board of governors twice, accusing the present director of lacking leadership quality, eroding the autonomy of the institute’s academic council and conceding space to peers like IIM-Ahmedabad and IIM-Bangalore.

“Especially in light of the autonomy resulting from the IIM Act, the individual will also be responsible for fund raising and creating endowment,” the advertisement says.