The University named a 13-year management professor as the interim School of Business dean Wednesday, about three weeks after administrators fired Doug Guthrie.

Christopher Kayes, an associate professor, will oversee the school until a permanent dean is selected, according to a University release. 

A professor in the business school as well as the College of Professional Studies, Kayes has taught at GW since 2000.

Kayes will take over a business school that was stunned last month when its three-year leader, Guthrie, was abruptly fired. Administrators said that decision was made after Guthrie overspent by $13 million – a quarter of its budget.

He will also steer the school through its accreditation process, with the school’s report due within a month.

Phil Wirtz, the vice dean of programs and education, oversaw the school’s day-to-day operations for the past three weeks. He told faculty at a meeting Monday that he did not want to be the interim dean because he was not the best person to lead the school through accreditation.

Kayes holds a Ph. D. in organizational behavior from Case Western Reserve University and an MBA from Butler University. He studied political science and religious studies at Indiana University.

He did not immediately return a request for comment.