The Executive Board has appointed Sham Moodliar as Chief Transformation Officer (CTrO) of TU/e, as of January 1, 2026. The aim of this position, which is new to TU/e, is to lead and support successful execution of university-wide transformation programs.
Universities are facing constant change, at increasing speed, and as our talent is our most important asset we need to handle our ongoing transformation with great care and attention. This requires a dedicated transformation leader to support the Executive Board in doing this process in an empathic and professional way. Therefore the Executive Board has established the new position of CTrO, which is taken on by Sham Moodliar.
Before starting at TU/e, Moodliar operated at an executive level at global companies such as Accenture, Shell, FedEx and SITA Aero. He has an MBA specialized in implementing strategic change.
His main focus as CTrO will be on the human side of the transformations, including creating support for change and increasing the organization's change readiness. Next to that he will help establish collective transformation efforts aimed at university-wide change. The CTrO reports directly to the Executive Board and is positioned in the General Affairs department.
The CTrO will reinforce TU/e's execution power necessary to implement the new Institutional Plan, including the transformation towards One TU/e, the future governance program and the transformation of TU/e Operations.
Koen Janssen, TU/e President: "The new position of CTrO is very much needed in view of all the developments TU/e is facing, both internally and externally. We need someone who can inspire, facilitate and prepare the entire organization for change. We found the perfect professional for this role in Sham. He embodies change, has an extensive international track record in transformation management, is able to create unity and support, and has a holistic approach. We are impressed with his achievements in the CE&C department. We have full confidence he will help TU/e increase its impact in a rapidly changing world."
Sham Moodliar: "I am excited to take on this new position at TU/e. I started working here a little over a year ago and I have come to know TU/e as an organization full of passionate and dedicated researchers and professionals. But I also see that the world we operate in as a university is subject to constant and profound change. I want to help make sure everyone is ready and able to adapt to the developments of today and tomorrow. I am looking forward to working with everyone."
The role of Chief Transformation Officer has become quite common over the last decade, with successful examples including companies like Deloitte, Unilever and Cisco. A crucial aspect of the CTrO role is that it focusses on culture and behavior change, and involves many people across the organization, giving ownership to many rather than top-down imposition.
Moodliar, who currently is Managing Director of the CE&C department, will first continue guiding the transformation at this department full-time until the end of April 2026 so the first stage of the CE&C transition is finished. His mandate as CE&C director will be extended for that period. The Executive Board is committed to appoint a strong successor for the CE&C department who fits the requirements for the next phase very well, together with the Dean of CE&C, and to a smooth transition.
