André Branch // Guest Speaker
André Branch is a seasoned C-Suite executive with over 25 years of leading and building brands in the consumer packaged goods and luxury sectors. Most recently, he served as the General Manager of M.A.C. Cosmetics in North America, where he spearheaded the brand’s transformation and resurgence of growth by localizing innovation, leveraging AI and proprietary digital technology, enhancing supply chain capabilities, and upgrading the retail experience.
Before joining M.A.C. Cosmetics, Branch held significant roles at companies like Kraft Foods, Diageo, and L’Oréal. At L’Oréal, he ran Digital and Ecommerce Operations for the USA, enhancing the organization’s digital skillset and Amazon presence. He also led iconic luxury brands such as Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb, Diesel, Stella McCartney, and Ralph Lauren. After L’Oréal, André joined The Nature’s Bounty Co. as the CMO of the Consumer-Packaged Goods division and then became President of E-Commerce, overseeing a pure-play, global ecommerce business.
André’s tenure at Diageo saw him overseeing leading spirit brands, including Cuervo tequila, Smirnoff vodka, Captain Morgan rum, and Johnnie Walker scotch whisky. In his final role at Diageo, he was the Global Marketing Head of the Diageo Reserve Portfolio, a collection of luxury spirits.
Branch is also an independent board director for Signet Jewelers, Partnership with Children, and The Apollo Theater. He began his career as a CPA in Audit for Deloitte & Touche and holds a BA in Economics from the University of Maryland and an MBA from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business.
Student Speakers
Michael Hartt, BBA ’25
Michael is a graduating BBA student from Detroit, Michigan. While at Michigan Ross, Michael served as the BBA program ‘s student body president, doubling the amount of student programming and creating inaugural student advocacy efforts.. After graduation, Michael will work as the chief of staff for The Coalition for Property Tax Justice, a collective of 15+ grassroots organizations formed to address property tax injustice in Detroit.
Christian Brymer, MBA ’25
Originally from Virginia, Christian graduated magna cum laude from The Ohio State University in 2016. He then spent seven years as a logistics officer in the Marine Corps, supporting operations across California, Germany, and multiple West African countries. At Ross, he has served as a vice president within the Armed Forces Association and as a Multidisciplinary Action Projects coach, mentoring MBA1s through real-world consulting projects. Christian and his wife, Theresa — an Ann Arbor native — have been married for five years. Together, they are raising their three wonderful daughters, Frida, Judith, and Clara. In his free time, Christian enjoys exploring the outdoors, cooking, homebrewing, and creating lasting memories with his family and friends.
Jaden Douglas, BBA ’25, BMA ‘25
Jaden is a graduating dual-degree BBA and Bachelor of Musical Arts student from Wayne, Pennsylvania. While at Michigan Ross, Jaden served as vice president of undergraduate engagement with the BBA Council, vice president of professional activities with Delta Sigma Pi, senior advisor with APEX Consulting, and was a 2024 Magnify Fellow. Jaden is also a proud four-year member of the Michigan Marching Band cymbal section. After graduation, he will be joining McKinsey & Co. in Philadelphia. Jaden is deeply thankful for the unwavering support of his family, the friendships that made Michigan Ross feel like home, and the faculty who inspired and guided him every step of the way.
Priya Varshika Ganji, MM ’25
Priya is from Northville, Michigan, but originally hails from India, having moved to the United States in 2011. A proud Wolverine, she earned dual bachelor’s degrees from the University of Michigan in 2024; a BS in information technologies from the School of Information, and a BS in economics from the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. During her time in the Master of Management Program at Michigan Ross, Priya expanded her global perspective through a study abroad program in Milan, Italy, where she explored family businesses and entrepreneurship — an interest she hopes to pursue in the future. Beyond her academic pursuits, Priya channels her creativity into illustrations and is passionate about Ann Arbor’s vibrant restaurant scene.
Student award recipients are selected by their graduating peers for being exemplary role models who display continuous dedication to the Ross School of Business.
The Frank S. Moran Distinguished Leadership Awards are presented to two graduating students who have made outstanding contributions to improve the business school experience for students, staff, and faculty, and have been active in all aspects of the Michigan Ross community. One award is given to a student in a graduate program, and another award is given to a BBA student. Both are supported by a special endowment honoring Frank Sullivan Moran. Frank Moran was not just a successful business leader; he also was a philosopher and educator who cared deeply about helping people.
Michael Hartt, BBA ‘25
Undergraduate Frank S. Moran Leadership Award
Michael is a graduating BBA student from Detroit, Michigan. While at Michigan Ross, Michael served as the BBA program’s student body president, doubling the amount of student programming and creating inaugural student advocacy efforts. After graduation, Michael will work as the chief of staff for The Coalition for Property Tax Justice, a collective of 15+ grassroots organizations formed to address property tax injustice in Detroit.
Ziyi Liu, MBA ‘25
Graduate Frank S. Moran Leadership Award
Ziyi came to Ross after studying at Vanderbilt University and working in development, sustainability, and policy in California. He championed structural improvements across the program — helping strengthen the curriculum, advance cross-campus collaboration, and shape long-term student engagement. After graduation, Ziyi is moving to Chicago.
The Ross Global Citizenship Community Service Awards are presented annually to graduating students who have made exemplary contributions to their community – both at Michigan Ross and beyond. Each award recipient designates the charity of their choice to which the award stipend will be donated. Conceived in 1998 by students of the Ross Global Citizenship Club, this award is supported by an endowment created through gifts from club members, students, faculty, staff, and alumni.
Cameron Allen, BBA ‘25
Undergraduate Global Citizenship Community Service Award
Cameron, from Bath, Michigan, is graduating with a major in strategy and a minor in history. At Ross, he was a BBA ambassador and member of the MECC Consulting Group. He studied abroad in Edinburgh, Scotland, and will join EY-Parthenon in Boston. He will make a donation to The Trevor Project, which supports LGBTQ+ youth in crisis.
Dan Rosenfield MBA ‘25
Graduate Global Citizenship Community Service Award
Dan earned his bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University and is passionate about building community partnerships and bridging the gap between government and the public. At Ross, he led voter education efforts, organized a startup hiring fair, and initiated an entrepreneurship retreat in Detroit. He held leadership roles in Jewish life and was a head writer of the MBA sketch comedy show, Follies.
The Michigan Ross Outstanding Leadership Awards recognize graduating students who have made impactful contributions and demonstrated outstanding achievement within the Master of Management, Master of Supply Chain Management, Master of Accounting, Global MBA, Evening MBA, Online MBA, or Weekend MBA programs. The Sanger Leadership Center is the first sponsor of this award. Sanger's mission is to build a more connected, creative, and prosperous world, one leader at a time.
Leo Gabaron, MAcc ‘25
Michigan Ross Outstanding Leadership Award
Leo is a first-generation American and Ann Arbor native who attended the University of Michigan for undergrad. He majored in economics and romance languages while running on the men’s track team. He is looking forward to joining Deloitte after graduating.
Allison Jacobs, MM ‘25
Michigan Ross Outstanding Leadership Award
Allison is a three-time captain of the Michigan volleyball team, Academic All-American, and vice president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. A Southern California native with an undergraduate degree in communication and media, Allison founded Michigan Mindfulness and strives to lead with gratitude, curiosity, and purpose.
Blake Pradko, MBAn ‘25
Michigan Ross Outstanding Leadership Award
Blake hails from Chesterfield, Michigan, and completed his BA in economics at Michigan. He has thoroughly enjoyed the MBAn program and the opportunity to learn alongside talented peers and from incredible professors. Blake looks forward to applying his analytics and business knowledge as an analyst at General Motors.
Niral Shah, Online MBA ‘25
Michigan Ross Outstanding Leadership Award
Niral is a practicing trauma and critical care surgeon with education and training from Upstate Medical University, Weill-Cornell Medicine, and Harvard University. He was also course lead for trauma surgery on behalf of the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative. With his education from Ross, he now also advises life science companies and investment funds.
Mitusha Singh, MSCM, ‘25
Michigan Ross Outstanding Leadership Award
Mitusha, an IT engineer and experienced consultant, brought more than 10 years of global industry experience to the MSCM Program. At Ross, she has led high-impact consulting projects and fostered an inclusive environment within the MSCM community.
Peter Woodman, Weekend MBA ‘25
Michigan Ross Outstanding Leadership Award
Peter is a second-generation Wolverine, husband to Jessica, and father to Ronan. His grandfather, Ernest A.H. Woodman, taught forestry and was professor emeritus at U-M’s School for Environment and Sustainability. Peter leads industrial monitoring at Shoplogix from their Ann Arbor office.
Jeffrey F. Zhou, Global MBA ‘25
Michigan Ross Outstanding Leadership Award
Jeffrey, born and raised in New York, is the class president of GMBA 2025. His perspective is shaped by his international studies and experience in the United States, Europe, and Asia — including a semester at HEC Paris. He has traveled to 50+ countries and plans to pursue global fundraising and strategic investor relations.
The Neary Teaching Excellence Awards are selected by the student body in recognition of outstanding contributions to their academic learning experience at the Ross School of Business. The stipends that accompany the awards have been made possible by the generosity of the late Robert D. Neary, BBA '55, and his wife, Janet E. Neary, AB '54. Mr. Neary’s career spanned 38 years with Ernst & Young, and both he and Mrs. Nearyremained involved with the University of Michigan after their graduations. The Nearys’ support of these awards affirmed their belief that teaching excellence is largely “the ability to make the pursuit of knowledge an exciting endeavor…the kind of excitement that is contagious and long-lasting.”
Betsy Erwin // OMBA Neary Teaching Excellence Award
Senior Associate Director and Education and Adjunct Lecturer in Business