Dynamic duo: XLRI (left) and Sunil

Jamshedpur, Oct. 16: A reputed foreign multinational is now banking on the manager next door to expand its horizons in the country.

A student of XLRI School of Business and Human Resources, one of the premier business schools in the country, has been offered the top post by ABN Amro Bank.

N. Sunil Kumar, a student of its general management programme (GMP) — a one-year, full time MBA programme for students with more than five years of managerial experience — has received a letter from the bank to join as the CEO of the ABN Amro Foundation.

An elated Sunil, an economics graduate from Utkal University, told The Telegraph that though the new employers are keen that he joins as early as possible, he himself wants to finish his course at XLRI, which means he would only be able to join after April.

The 43-year-old assistant general manager at National Agricultural Bank for Rural Development (Nabard) holds a diploma in finance and management. He also has behind him a wealth of banking experience with more than 20 years’ experience at Nabard. He is, at present, on a year’s leave from his office to catch up with some fresh managerial knowledge at XLRI.

“The experience at Nabard has been tremendous. I learnt about the nitty-gritty of rural infrastructure, corporate planning and micro-finance,” said Sunil, who has worked in several Nabard branches including their headquarters in Mumbai.

At the ABN Amro Foundation, Sunil will look after poor economies in sectors like livelihood, conservation of environment, wildlife and habitats, addressing school dropouts and also rehabilitation and resettlement policies. The Dutch bank, he added, is keen to focu s on eastern India, especially in Jharkhand and Orissa, which has a large chunk of tribal population. The foundation also has operations in Brazil and Indonesia and supports projects in several other developing countries.

In a first for Sunil’s alma mater as well, XLRI has opened its doors for companies to recruit students of the GMP. Earlier, recruitment was open for students of the two-year business management and personal management course and of their three-year programme.

XLRI, apart from Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, and Indian School of Business, Hyderabad, is the only institute to offer a one-year general management programme.