Frost & Sullivan Appoints Dr. Vinod Aggarwal Chief Economist

Dr. Aggarwal, a distinguished professor at the University of California, Berkeley, will spearhead the firm's efforts to help governments, corporations, and investors understand the shifting dynamics of industrial policy, economic statecraft, and non-market strategy. His work will focus on how geopolitical change and technological transformation are redefining global competitiveness, the company said in a statement.

The appointment, announced August 3, 2026, formalizes a relationship that has spanned more than two decades. Dr. Aggarwal has collaborated with Frost & Sullivan across various advisory and leadership roles during that time, bringing deep expertise in the interplay of markets, policy, and global strategy.

Krishna Srinivasan, Executive Board Member and Global Managing Partner at Frost & Sullivan, said the appointment underscores the firm's commitment to providing clients with foresight at the intersection of business and policy. He cited Dr. Aggarwal's academic credentials, global perspective, and understanding of geoeconomics as assets that will help organizations anticipate change in a complex global environment.

In addition to his role at Berkeley, where he holds the Alann P. Bedford Chair in Political Science and serves as Director of the Berkeley APEC Study Center, Dr. Aggarwal is an affiliated professor at the Haas School of Business and a fellow at the Public Law and Policy Center at Berkeley Law School. He has taught executive and MBA programs at leading business schools worldwide and received the Cheit Award for Excellence in Teaching at Haas.

Dr. Aggarwal is an elected lifetime member of the Council on Foreign Relations and has advised numerous public and private sector organizations. He has authored or edited more than 20 books, including 'The Oxford Handbook of Geoeconomics and Economic Statecraft' (2025) and 'Governing Growth: Industrial Policy from Hamilton to Trump' (2026). He holds a BA from the University of Michigan and an MA and PhD from Stanford University.