Indian airlines cannot seem to get enough expat CEOs, and they are adding a few more names to the list in the coming days. We recently reported about Air India appointing New Zealand-born Campbell Wilson as its CEO, the first after the privatization. Now, IndiGo has appointed Dutch-national Pieter Elbers, who is currently at KLM, as its next CEO. Elbers to give IndiGo fresh blood for next growth phase.
The arival of Elbers marks the end of an era for IndiGo. Its current CEO, Ronojoy Dutta (71), who worked extensively at United, before heading Air Sahara in India, and later IndiGo for the past four years, is going to retire and leave the company by September 30.
Announcing his retirement, Ronojoy Dutta said: “I leave knowing that IndiGo is in the good custody of Mr. Elbers and that the future for IndiGo employees is secure and bright. I would like to thank all the employees at IndiGo for the kindness and affection they have shown me over the past four years. As I move forward to the next chapter of my life, I will look back with nostalgia, fondness, and a tinge of separation regret.”
Commending his service, Rahul Bhatia, Managing Director of IndiGo said: “The Board of Directors and I would like to thank Rono for effectively leading our business for almost four years with a steady hand through what has been the most turbulent period in the airline’s history and aviation globally.”
The departure of Dutta is one of the many changes in the management of IndiGo as the airline exits the Covid-19 pandemic. Recently, Rahul Bhatia , who is one of the promoters of the airline, took on the role of Managing Director. Rakesh Gangwal, the other promoter of IndiGo, has recently exited the Board of Directors and intends to exit his shareholding of the airline through a secondary sale of shares over time. Together with their related entities and individuals, Gangwal and Bhatia control a 77.4 percent stake in InterGlobe Aviation, the company which owns and…
