Ram Ramanathan, D.B.A. is a Director and Head of R&D Operations IT at Shire Pharmaceuticals. As part of this technology management role, he partners with the R&D Operations department to translate their business needs into effective technical solutions, and is responsible for leading the R&D's system integration activities from the company's Mergers & Acquisitions. In addition, he leads the R&D IT organization's transverse governance activities such as strategy development, financial management, resource capacity planning, performance measurement, and marketing and communication.

Ram joined Shire with nearly fifteen years of experience at Sanofi in key positions in the R&D IT department including portfolio management, program management and project management, and had directed strategic projects in the Clinical Operations division. Prior to joining Sanofi, he held positions in IT consulting.

He began his professional career working as an international development consultant for the U.S. Forest Service, International Forestry Division, where he researched and advised on policy issues affecting the agency's organizational capacity development interventions for NGOs in developing countries. Subsequently, as a consultant to the U.S. Agency for International Development, he served as a member of project teams that evaluated international development programs and projects, and that advised the agency on strategic planning and program performance management.

His primary research interest is in the area of change management related to offshore outsourcing of IT services. His research work has been published in several international journals and conference proceedings such as the Academy of Management.

Ram holds a Doctorate in Business Administration from Northumbria University in Newcastle, England, an MBA from Drexel University, MPhil and MS degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, an MA from Georgetown University, and a BS from Middlesex University in London.