Laxman Narasimhan Appointed to WGU Board of Trustees
Today, Western Governors University (WGU) is pleased to announce that Laxman Narasimhan, a global business leader with more than three decades of experience leading complex organizations through periods of transformation, has joined the WGU Board of Trustees as its newest trustee.
Recognized for his ability to navigate large-scale organizational and workforce change, Narasimhan brings deep experience across the private, public and social sectors. Over the course of his career, he has worked around the globe, guiding global enterprises at the intersection of strategy, talent development and innovation. His leadership reflects strong alignment with WGU’s mission to change lives for the better by creating pathways to opportunity.
“Laxman brings a deep understanding of how learning, talent and opportunity intersect in a rapidly changing economy,” said WGU President Scott Pulsipher. “We are grateful for his global leadership experience and commitment to developing people at scale as we work to make higher education more accessible and relevant for today’s learners.”
Narasimhan spent 19 years at McKinsey & Company advising organizations across the consumer, retail, technology, health and industrial sectors in the Cleveland, Tokyo, Toronto, San Francisco and India Offices. While in India, he helped with the creation of the National Skills Development Corporation. He later held senior executive roles at PepsiCo, including CRO of the business in Latin America, Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa, and global chief commercial officer, where he led large-scale transformations across Latin America, Europe, and Sub-Saharan Africa, focusing on digital innovation, sustainable growth and enterprise learning.
As Chief Executive Officer of Reckitt, Narasimhan led a comprehensive strategic reset, advancing a digital-first culture, restructuring global operations and elevating the organization’s focus on science, talent and purpose during a period of global disruption. Most recently, he served as chief executive officer of Starbucks, where he led the organization through a period of transition, gaining firsthand experience navigating the operational, workforce, brand and cultural complexities of a global consumer-facing enterprise. At Starbucks, he worked in stores for six months before he took on the role of CEO, engaging with the front line and recognizing explicitly that the path to creating a great customer experience lay in creating a great partner experience. Over the last year, he has been investing in, and advising founders, in AI-driven technology companies and consumer health companies.
“We are delighted to welcome Laxman to the WGU Board of Trustees,” said Joe Fuller, chair of WGU’s Board of Trustees, a distinguished management professor at Harvard Business School and co-director of the school’s Managing the Future of Work. “He brings a rare combination of operational rigor, global perspective and a sustained focus on talent development that aligns closely with WGU’s mission. His insights will be invaluable as we continue to evolve how higher education supports opportunity and mobility at scale.”
Throughout his career, Narasimhan has consistently championed talent development, upskilling and enterprise learning as essential drivers of long-term success. He is widely recognized for his people leadership and followership. His insights into credentialing, skill-building and workforce mobility bring timely relevance to WGU’s work to create clear, scalable pathways to opportunity for adult learners. In addition to his executive leadership experience, he currently serves on several influential boards, including Verizon, the Brookings Institution, and Just Capital.
“I am honored to join the WGU Board of Trustees at a time when creating clear, scalable pathways to opportunity has never been more important,” said Narasimhan. “WGU’s focus on learners, outcomes and real-world impact strongly resonates with my belief that education can be a powerful force for improving lives, communities and the future of work.”
