International Business
Emerging Markets
Organisational Learning
Hybrid Organisations
Family Business
- kiran.mahasuar@spjimr.org
Kiran J. Mahasuar
Assistant Professor, StrategyProf. Kiran J. Mahasuar is a management practitioner-turned-academic with extensive experience in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry. He is a regular contributor of opinion pieces to Forbes India, Mint, Business Today, BW Businessworld, BW Education, Outlook Business, and The Print. He has also been quoted multiple times in notable media outlets, including The Financial Times (FT) and Mint, for his expert insights.
He holds a Ph.D. in Strategic Management from the Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode. His research interests lie at the intersection of international business, emerging markets, organisational learning, and non-profit organisations. Prof. Mahasuar’s academic contributions have received global recognition. He was a finalist for the prestigious Alan M. Rugman Young Scholar Award instituted by the Academy of International Business (AIB) and was selected for the AIB-EM SIG’s Emerging Scholars from Emerging Markets Program (ESEMP). He has published in reputed peer-reviewed journals and presented at major domestic and international conferences.
Education
Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode
Ph.D. 2025
Focus: Strategic Management
Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar
PG Diploma in Management (equivalent to MBA)
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Research interests
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Selected publications
Mahasuar, K. (2026). From shadows to parasites: Rethinking global education markets through the case of the coaching industry in India. Globalisation, Societies and Education. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/14767724.2025.2608678
Mahasuar, K. (2025). Clause versus cause: Indian courts depart from Wayne Tank in interpreting insurance exclusions. Insurance Law Journal, 34(1), 35-39. https://search.informit.org/doi/10.3316/informit.T2025122200005291997057046.
Mahasuar, K., & Quach, S. (2025). Segmented routes to market: A simulation-based analysis of salesforce configuration in emerging retail environments. Journal of Strategic Marketing. https://doi.org/10.1080/0965254X.2025.2605284
Mahasuar, K. (2025). Managing Competing Institutional Logics in Public-Private Hybrids: A Negotiated Order Perspective. In Academy of Management Proceedings (Vol. 2025, No. 1, p. 21629). Valhalla, NY 10595: Academy of Management. https://doi.org/10.5465/AMPROC.2025.21629abstract
Mahasuar, K. (2023). COVID-19 and its impact on Indian Construction Industry: An Event Study Approach. Construction Management and Economics Vol. 41(5), 428-444. https://doi.org/10.1080/01446193.2022.2164789
Mahasuar, K. (2023). Strategic choices of an MNE in an emerging market: the case of Perfetti Van Melle. Journal of Strategic Marketing, Vol. 31(5), 1012-1028. https://doi.org/10.1080/0965254X.2022.2030391
Mahasuar, K. (2023). Knowledge Management Practices in Non-Profit Organizations: An Institutional Logics Approach. Knowledge and Process Management Vol. 30(3), 267-277. https://doi.org/10.1002/kpm.1739.
Mahasuar, K. (2022). Lies, damned lies, and statistics: The uncertainty over COVID-19 numbers in India. Knowledge and Process Management, Vol. 29(4), pp. 410-417. https://doi.org/10.1002/kpm.1685
Mahasuar, K. (2019). Brand Horlicks in India: an epitome or an epitaph? Strategic Direction. Vol. 35(7), 9-11. https://doi.org/10.1108/SD-08-2018-0170.
Mahasuar, K. (2019). Strategic innovations in distribution channels–an emerging market perspective and case studies from consumer-packaged-goods (CPG) industry of India. Strategic Direction. Vol. 35(1), 13-16. https://doi.org/10.1108/SD-07-2018-0158.
Mahasuar, K. (2018). Demystifying Last Mile Distribution in Fast Moving Consumer Goods Industry- A Contemporary Perspective. The Management Accountant. Vol. 53(5), 76-79. https://icmai-rnj.in/index.php/maj/article/view/126020.
Mahasuar, K. (2018). Mevicol’s Gambit – Outsmarting the Competition (Case No. 318-0331-1). The Case Centre. https://www.thecasecentre.org/products/view?id=158523.
Mahasuar, K., & Subramanian, P. (2018). Suresh’s Dilemma – Managing the Team (Case No. 518-0055-8). The Case Centre. https://www.thecasecentre.org/products/view?id=153000.
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Case studies
Mahasuar, K. (2018). Mevicol’s Gambit – Outsmarting the Competition (Case No. 318-0331-1). The Case Centre. https://www.thecasecentre.org/products/view?id=158523
Mahasuar, K., & Subramanian, P. (2018). Suresh’s Dilemma – Managing the Team (Case No. 518-0055-8). The Case Centre. https://www.thecasecentre.org/products/view?id=153000
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Conferences
Mahasuar, K. (2025). “Managing Competing Institutional Logics in Public-Private Hybrids: A Negotiated Order Perspective” 85th Academy of Management Annual Meeting, 27-29 July, Copenhagen, Denmark (accepted for presentation)
Mahasuar, K., Rameshan, P., and Upadhyayula, R. (2023). “Medical Tourism: A Transaction Cost Economics Perspective”.
- Academy of International Business (AIB) Annual Meeting 2023, July 6-9. Warsaw, Poland
- Indian Academy of Management (INDAM) Conference, January 6-8, Mumbai, India
Mahasuar, K. and Bhanja, N. (2023), “Strategic Choices of a Latecomer MNE in an Emerging Market”.
- Academy of International Business (AIB) Annual Meeting 2023, July 6-9, Warsaw, Poland
- WISE Scholarship in Oceania Conference (co-hosted by the Strategic Management division of the Academy of Management and Macquarie Business School), March 23-24, Sydney, Australia
Mahasuar, K. (2022). “COVID-19 and its impact on Indian Construction Industry”. IIM Indore-GIZ Germany Online Conference, April 16-17, Indore, India
Mahasuar, K. (2021). “The Interplay of Competing Institutional Logics and Collaborative Value Creation: Evidence from a successful public-private partnership project”. 7th International Communication Management Conference, January 7-9, Ahmedabad, India
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Periodicals
Mahasuar, K. (2026). Why India’s pet care boom needs a hybrid go-to-market strategy. BW Marketing World.
Mahasuar, K. J. (2026). Building India’s knowledge economy: The budget’s higher education test. BW Businessworld.
Mahasuar, K. J. (2025). The real reason Netflix is keen to buy Warner Bros. Outlook Business.
Mahasuar, K. J. (2025). IndiGo’s Turbulence: Strategic Ambiguity Strains Organisation. BW Business World.
Mahasuar, K. (2025). Microdramas – The land of first movers or fast followers? BW Marketing.
Mahasuar, K. (2025). How Gen Z is rewriting the rules of brand loyalty. Forbes India.
Mahasuar, K. J. (2025). The human side of strategy: Why consultants still matter in the age of AI. BW Marketing.
Mahasuar, K. (2025). How India’s paints industry went from oligopoly to open battle. Outlook Business.
Mahasuar, K. J. (2025). From shopkeeper-in-law to algorithmic neutrality: The quiet power of quick commerce. BW Marketing.
Mahasuar, K. (2025). Does Bollywood have a strategy? BW Marketing.
Mahasuar, K. (2025). Diderot’s Curse and the BNPL Trap: Why India’s middle class may be walking into a debt crisis. Mint.
Mahasuar, K. (2025). When Acquisitions Seduce: Why FMCG Firms Must Look Beyond the Shopping Spree. Outlook Business.
Mahasuar, K. (2025). Beyond Jobs: The True Role Of Business Schools. BW Education.
Mahasuar, K. (2025). India’s Test Prep Industry: A Meritocracy Of Inequity. BW Education.
Mahasuar, K. (2025). From Fat Profits To Fit Futures: How India’s FMCG Giants Must Rethink Strategy. BW Marketing World.
Mahasuar, K. (2025). Maruti is late to the EV party, and it’s Toyota’s plus-one. Real Reinvention demands more. The Print.
Mahasuar, K. (2025). Can India’s IT Sector Survive the AI Reset? Outlook Business.
Mahasuar, K. (2025). Inside The Modern MBA: Inclusion, Debate, Teamwork At The Core. BW Education.
Mahasuar, K. (2025). Indian pharma can’t survive on prescriptions alone. It must now build brands. Business Today.
Mahasuar, K. (2025). Campa Cola Needs More Than Nostalgia—Differentiation, Not Discounts, Will Keep it Afloat. Outlook Business.
Mahasuar, K. (2025). Mounjaro will shrink India’s appetite for packaged food, gyms, and weight loss supplements. The Print.
Mahasuar, K. (2017). Decoding Neural Patterns. Indian Management.
Mahasuar, K. (2017). Making Every Opinion Count. The Smart Manager.
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Working papers
AI and organisation design
Problemistic search and bricolage in entrepreneurial ventures
Imprinting effect in the legacy firms
Diversity of TMT and innovation
Competitive advantage in the service industry
Organisational learning and new product development
Public-private hybrids and negotiated order
Strategic choices in a family-owned MNE
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Featured in
Mahasuar, K. J. (2026). Soft drink’s Jio moment? RIL’s Campa tests Coke-Pepsi duopoly of 30 years. The Economic Times.
Mahasuar, K. (2026).
Legacy ayurveda brands take the new age wellness route to stay relevant. Mint.Mahasuar, K. (2026). Mukesh Ambani takes on Coca-Cola and Pepsi for India fizzy drink supremacy. Financial Times.
Mahasuar, K. (2025). Weight-loss drugs are reshaping the snack shelf—one bite at a time. Mint.
Mahasuar, K. (2025). Demand for weight loss drugs is growing. Can wellness companies keep up? Mint.
Mahasuar, K. (2025). Healthify shifts gears to incorporate weight-loss drugs, cash in on anti-obesity boom? Mint.
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Courses
Strategic Management
Cross-Functional Simulation
International Business
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Awards and honours
Emerging Scholars from Emerging Markets Program awardee of Emerging Markets SIG of the Academy of International Business (2023-24)
Alan M. Rugman Young Scholar Award nominee instituted by the Academy of International Business (2023)
Best Reviewer Award for International Management (IM) Division in the 83rd Academy of Management Annual Meeting (2023)
Certificate of Recognition from Wiley for Top Downloaded Article (2021)
Bronze Award for the best summer project by the Rural Marketing Association of India (2009)
National Merit Scholarship recipient from the Government of India (2004-06)
Merit Certificate for Securing 10th Rank in Odisha State in the commerce stream in the annual higher secondary examinations conducted by CHSE, Odisha (2004)
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Teaching interests
Strategic Management
International Business
Business Simulation
Competitive Strategies
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Work experience
Academic faculty
Assistant Professor at IMT Ghaziabad (Aug 2024 – July 2025).
Faculty at ISB&M, Pune (Nov 2017 – June 2019).
Administrative assignments
Co-chairperson of Strategy, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Area at IMT Ghaziabad (Feb 2025 – July 2025)
Professional positions
Manager (Marketing, Media and PR) at MICA Ahmedabad (2016- 2017)
Trade Activation Manager at Dabur India Limited (2015-2016)
Trade Marketing Manager at Perfetti Van Melle (2013-2015)
Branch Manager at Pidilite Limited (2012-2013)
AUT and Area Manager at ITC Limited (2010-2012)
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Reviewer experience
Journals: Ad-hoc Reviewer for Construction Management and Economics, Journal of Service Theory and Practice, Knowledge Management Research & Practice, IIM Kozhikode Society & Management Review, International Journal of Knowledge and Learning, Paradigm
Conferences: Reviewer for Academy of Management Annual Conference (2023, 2024, 2025), Academy of International Business Annual Conference (2023, 2024), INDAM Conference (2023,2026), India Strategy Conference (2023)
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Professional memberships
Member of the Academy of Management (AoM)
Member of the Academy of International Business (AIB)
Member of the Association for Information Systems (AIS)