We are delighted to share that Rajesh Chandy, Professor of Marketing, Tony and Maureen Wheeler Chair in Entrepreneurship and Co-Academic Director of the Wheeler Institute at London Business School, has been honoured with the 2026 William L. Wilkie “Marketing for a Better World” Award by the American Marketing Association (AMA).
Founded in 1937, the AMA is one of the world’s leading professional communities for marketing academics, researchers, and practitioners. The Association works to advance the practice and science of marketing through research, education, and collaboration, and its awards recognise individuals whose work has had a transformative impact on the field.
The Wilkie Award honours marketing thinkers who have significantly contributed to our understanding of marketing’s potential to improve our world, and its ability to serve society, foster human dignity, and tackle pressing global challenges, reflecting the values championed by Bill Wilkie of the University of Notre Dame.
As noted by the AMA, “Rajesh Chandy’s work exemplifies this ethos. Over decades, his research has shed light on how innovation, in products, organisations, and markets, can generate economic opportunity, support sustainable development, and improve lives and communities globally. His body of work spans topics from entrepreneurial ecosystems in emerging markets to pathways for inclusive growth and social impact.”
Commenting on this honour, Rajesh expressed his gratitude and reflected on the potential of marketing to create positive change:
I am deeply honored to receive this award. Bill Wilkie’s work—and that of the distinguished scholars who have received this award before me—shows us that marketing can and should be a force for good. At its finest, marketing empowers us and lifts us up: creating inspiration, dignity, well-being, and prosperity. It reminds us to pay heed to the hopes, aspirations, and needs of all, including those who are left behind. I am grateful to the collaborators and communities who champion this vision and who show, every day, what it means to create a profound impact on the world. I am especially grateful to Maureen and Tony Wheeler, and to Antoinette and John Vermilye, whose support and belief in this work have been a constant source of inspiration. I also want to thank the London Business School and Wheeler Institute communities, whose collaboration and commitment make this work possible every day.
The award ceremony will take place at the upcoming AMA Winter Conference, where academic and practitioner leaders from around the world will convene to explore the frontiers of marketing theory and practice.
This latest honour follows Rajesh’s induction as a Fellow of the American Marketing Association, a recognition awarded last year. You can read more about that achievement and his research here.