Chef K. Thirugnanasambantham

Dean, School of Hospitality Management

Chef K. Thirugnanasambantham, affectionately known as Chef K. Thiru, is a distinguished academic leader and culinary educator with over 34 years of experience in both the hospitality industry and academia. As the Founding Dean of the School of Hospitality at Mahindra University, Chef Thiru champions innovation, leadership, and excellence in culinary and hospitality education.

Academic and Professional Background

Chef Thiru has made significant strides in academia and the hospitality industry. Before joining Mahindra University, he spent 25 years at the Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration (WGSHA), a part of Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE). His tenure included six years as Principal and four years as Vice Principal, with a focus on transforming WGSHA into one of India’s premier hospitality institutions. Chef Thiru has been on the rolls of ITC Hotels as a Senior Executive, a testament to his ongoing contributions to ITC’s hospitality endeavours, with WGSHA operating under ITC Hotels’ mentorship during his time there. He also gained early industry experience with prestigious brands like the Taj Group of Hotels, Residency Group of Hotels, and Blue Hill Food Products, providing him with eight years of operational expertise.