Biao Xiang Begins Tenure as Managing Director

On 1 February 2024, Biao Xiang, Director of the Department ‘Anthropology of Economic Experimentation’, begins his term as Managing Director of the Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology (MPI). He takes over from Ursula Rao, who has performed this function since 1 February 2022.

Biao Xiang joined the MPI in September 2021, leaving a post as Professor of Social Anthropology at Oxford University to establish a new department in Halle. “During the last two years I have built up my Department and established a research agenda for the coming years. Now I am looking forward to the chance to be involved in the running of the Institute as Managing Director. I benefit greatly from the work of my predecessor, Ursula Rao, who skilfully guided the Institute through a period of transition after the retirement of two Directors. I am deeply grateful to her for her service.”