Global offers on the rise at IIM-Ahmedabad placements

Riding on a rising number of offers from investment banks, global strategy consulting and private equity firms, the final placements season at the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A) has seen higher number of international offers for the flagship post graduate programme (PGP) this year.

Not only did investment banks offer roles across geographies, but consulting firms also made more international offers this year. Oliver Wyman, Analysys Mason and Heidrick & Struggles were some of the consulting firms which made international offers this year, spanning across New York, Dubai and Singapore. Amongst the marketing firms, HUL and P&G offered roles in Singapore. Cadbury Kraft and Dabur made international offers as well.

Similarly, roles with international exposure were also offered to four post graduate programme in agribusiness management (PGP-ABM) students in countries such as Brazil, Ethiopia and Zambia. Offers were made by Indian companies expanding into foreign territories.

Over 120 firms participated in the laterals and final placement process, excluding firms that only extended pre placement offers (PPOs) through the internship process, for a batch of 314 students.

However, refusing to divulge placement statistics this year, the institute stated that it is still collating data as per the placement reporting standards this year. "Post Cluster four, there were two students who had not been placed with firms of their choice. Both these students have specific career objectives as well as location preferences. We have been supporting both students in their efforts in making a right career choice. One of these students has since found and accepted a suitable role. We will continue to support the efforts of the other student, and are yet to officially close the placement process," said a placement committee member at IIM-A.

This year marked an increase in the number of the investment banks for the final recruitment process. While Goldman Sachs, Nomura, and Royal Bank of Scotland were among the major recruiters to extend offers through the PPO route, Citi, Merrill Lynch and HSBC also participated in the finals process.

Among top recruiters at the campus were BCG (11 offers including PPO) and EXL (11 offers) this year, followed by McKinsey and P&G, which made 10 offers (including PPO) each. Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries made eight offers in general management roles, while amongst Indian banks, Yes Bank made eight offers to students. Firms participated in the recruitment process across a variety of cohorts, namely global and Indian investment banks, strategy consulting, corporate leadership program, global FMCG operations, and IT services.

This year seven students (two per cent of the batch) opted out of the placement process to become entrepreneurs. Additionally, three students used the final placement process to join Ingersoll Rand's unique two year entrepreneurship development program.

This year we also saw one student, who had opted out of placements in 2008, come back and use the IIMA placement services.

PGP-ABM, a sector specific programme providing managerial talent to the food and agribusiness sector, saw about 23 firms participating in placement process this year. A variety of roles were on offer across sub-sectors such as food processing, agricultural inputs, rural banking and insurance, commodity trading, food and agribusiness advisory, farm management and information services for agriculture.

PGP-ABM placement process saw 41 offers by 23 firms to the batch of 36 participants. Companies like Excel Crop Care and Shapoorji Pallonji Group made four offers each in different functional areas like strategy, market intelligence, general management and farm management for the first time.

Companies like Sharp Group and Krishidhan Seeds Ltd. offered strategic and supply chain roles making three offers each. Among other new recruiters were Heinz, Axis Bank, HDFC Ergo, Bengal Tools, Agrocom, InGovern Research Services and Amalgamated Plantations.