Babson initiates search to replace Len Schlesinger

Len Schlesinger will step down as president of Babson College in 2013, citing his family as one of the main reasons for his departure. He will have held the top job at Babson, famous as the entrepreneurship business school, for five years.

Prof Schlesinger joined Babson from an executive role at Limited Brands, but previously taught at Harvard Business School for 20 years, and was one of the professors tipped to be dean of HBS when Kim Clark was appointed in 1995.

Prof Schlesinger lists the expansion of the undergraduate programme and the increase in diversity at the college as two of his achievements. “Employers are more impressed than ever with our students, their education and their skill sets and our graduates and alumni have experienced significant economic success,” he says.

According to Joseph Winn, chair of Babson’s board of trustees, Babson has never been in such a strong position. However, Babson dropped from 84 to 100 in the Financial Times 2012 MBA rankings and from 39 to 42 in last month’s Bloomberg Businessweek rankings.

“The opportunities that lie ahead for Babson have never been more exciting,” says Mr Winn. “The board shares Len’s view that this is an opportune time to initiate a transition process. We now enthusiastically prepare to identify the right leader to serve as Babson’s 13th president to take us through the college’s 100th anniversary in 2019.”

Babson Trustee Craig Benson will lead the search committee for the Prof Schlesinger’s replacement.

www.babson.edu