Lucknow: Prem Chandra Purwar has been appointed officiating director of the Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow (IIM-L), an official said here on Monday.

His appointment, following a Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry directive, came after Devi Singh's five-year term as IIM-L director ended on August 24.

The IIM-L board of governors had then constituted a committee of two deans to run the institute, the official added.

Purwar's teaching areas include consumer behaviour and marketing research.

In December 2007, the ministry had invited applications for the post of IIM-L director and five short-listed candidates including Devi Singh were interviewed on May 2.

Singh, seeking an extension of his term, was leading the race. However, the final decision on the permanent appointment remains pending. IANS