Programs honor Rajiv Dutta

CLAREMONT, California—The Drucker School and the Drucker Institute at Claremont Graduate University announced today the creation of two programs to honor the memory of Rajiv Dutta, the former president of eBay Marketplaces.

Dutta, who served as the first Distinguished Drucker Executive-in-Residence for the School and the Institute in 2009, died of cancer on January 31. He was 49 years old.

To honor Dutta’s legacy at the Drucker School, where he earned his MBA in 1982, a new scholarship is being launched for students who exemplify the qualities that Dutta exhibited: a can-do spirit, a strong work ethic, leadership, kindness, high moral standards and humility. This need-based aid will cover up to 50% of one MBA student’s tuition for two full years. It is expected that the first Dutta Scholar will be part of the class that enters in Fall 2012.

“Rajiv made a lasting impression on our faculty and staff as a student at the Drucker School,” said Administrative Dean Leslie Negritto.“We are honored to offer a scholarship in his memory and hope to reward other students of his caliber—students who possess his keen intellect, personal qualities and ability to make a difference in the world.”

For its part, the Drucker Institute is naming its Distinguished Visitors program for Dutta. “We are pleased to be able to remember Rajiv this way, and to have all of our visiting executives, scholars and writers linked to his name,” said Rick Wartzman, executive director of the Drucker Institute. “Rajiv was not only a talented businessman, he was a wonderful human being who very generously gave his time and wisdom to the Institute. He was a real friend, and we all miss him.”

Sumita Dutta, Rajiv’s wife, expressed her gratitude for the creation of the programs. “I would like to thank CGU,the Drucker School and the Drucker Institute for the truly special way in which they are honoring Rajiv,” she said. “I know he would have been touched—and surprised—by the gesture.”

Before running eBay Marketplaces, Dutta served as president of the company’s PayPal and Skype units, as well as eBay’s chief financial officer. Prior to joining eBay, he held positions at KLA-Tencor, a manufacturer of semiconductor equipment, and Bio-Rad Laboratories, a manufacturer and distributor of life science and diagnostic products. In addition to his Drucker School degree, he earned a B.A. in Economics from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University in India.