Umesh Chander Aggarwal

Umesh Chander Aggarwal is an executive with more than 25 years of international experience in group audit, controlling, finance, and organisational development. After senior roles at KPMG, BearingPoint, BASF SE, Rittal, and Mannesmann, he ran global audit and controlling processes, led international teams, and managed complex transformation and integration projects across Europe, Asia, and the United States. His areas of work include corporate governance, supply chain and CAPEX audits, project controlling, US GAAP and IFRS reporting, and building and scaling international business structures. He is a certified AI manager and has completed further training in AI law, prompt engineering, and generative AI, combining a finance and management background with a working knowledge of newer technology.

Born in Africa, educated in India, Germany, and Switzerland, and based in Germany professionally, he brings a global perspective to university leadership and an emphasis on values, analysis, and long-term thinking. His leadership style centres on empathy and collaboration, and on equipping students to use AI thoughtfully and responsibly so they can succeed and develop their potential.

He is committed to developing the universities organisationally, digitally, and strategically, building modern and capable structures, and fostering an open, diverse, and global university culture. Working closely with academic leadership, he aims to bring administrative excellence and academic quality together effectively.