Chandy wins American Marketing Association William L. Wilkie “Marketing for a Better World” Award
Celebrating Professor Rajesh K. Chandy’s role in driving marketing for positive impact
London Business School is delighted to congratulate Professor Rajesh K. Chandy, Professor of Marketing, Co-Academic Director of the Wheeler Institute, and the Tony and Maureen Wheeler Chair in Entrepreneurship, on being named the 2026 recipient of the American Marketing Association’s William L. Wilkie “Marketing for a Better World” Award.
William L. Wilkie, for whom the award is named, said: “I’m extremely pleased that the committee selected Dr. Rajesh Chandy. He has not only published highly impactful strategy research on marketing and innovation but has moved strongly into the thorny but great potential issues of marketing’s roles in fostering economic development and better lives.”
Professor Chandy’s research spans innovation, entrepreneurship and economic development, with projects supporting micro-entrepreneurs, advancing gender equity, and exploring how digital tools can accelerate growth in emerging markets. His work has been supported by organisations including the World Bank, the Gates Foundation, J-PAL and Innovations for Poverty Action.
Responding to the award, Professor Chandy said: “I am deeply honoured to receive this award. Marketing can and should be a force for good, creating inspiration, dignity, well-being and prosperity, and helping those who are often left behind.”
The William L. Wilkie Award recognises scholars whose work demonstrates marketing’s potential to improve lives and strengthen communities.
About the American Marketing Association (AMA)
As the leading global professional marketing association, the AMA is the essential community for marketers. From students and practitioners to executives and academics, we aim to elevate the profession, deepen knowledge, and make a lasting impact. The AMA is home to five premier scholarly journals including: Journal of Marketing, Journal of Marketing Research, Journal of Public Policy and Marketing, Journal of International Marketing, and Journal of Interactive Marketing. Our industry-leading training events and conferences define future forward practices, while our professional development and PCM® professional certification advance knowledge. With 70 chapters and a presence on 350 college campuses across North America, the AMA fosters a vibrant community of marketers. The association’s philanthropic arm, the AMA’s Foundation, is inspiring a more diverse industry and ensuring marketing research impacts public good.
AMA views marketing as the activity, set of institutions, and processes for creating, communicating, delivering, and exchanging offerings that have value for customers, clients, partners, and society at large. You can learn more about AMA’s learning programs and certifications, conferences and events, and scholarly journals at AMA.org.