In a strategic move ahead of its highly-anticipated merger with Vistara on 12 November, the Air India Group has announced a series of significant management changes. These changes are aimed at strengthening leadership across the newly- integrated airline.
Vinod Kannan, currently serving as CEO, Vistara and chief integration officer for the merger, will continue in his integration role post merger. He will report directly to Campbell Wilson, CEO, Air India, as a member of the Management Committee.
Kannan joined Vistara as its chief integration officer in the year 2019. The following year, he was elevated to the role of chief commercial officer and finally to CEO in the year 2022. Prior to Vistara, Kannan has worked with many renowned brands such as Scoot and Singapore Airlines.
Another key appointment is that of Deepak Rajawat, chief commercial officer, Vistara, who is set to transition into the role of chief financial officer (CFO) at the expanded Air India Express. He will report to Aloke Singh , CEO, and collaborate closely with Sanjay Sharma, Group CFO, on strategic projects.
An alumnus of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, Rajawat has held many key roles in companies such as Deloitte, KPMG and Tata Realty and Infrastructure. Rajawat joined Vistara in the year 2010.
In a heartfelt LinkedIn post, he stated that “although the journey with Vistara is coming to an end, the story of Vistara would always live on within.”
Further changes include the movement of Deepa Chadha, SVP-HR & corporate affairs, Vistara, to a senior position within the other Tata Group companies. Chadha has been a part of Vistara for seven years now. She joined the company in the year 2017, after a short stint with Jabong.
Prior to Jabong, Chadha was part of Airtel as its for close to seven years. She joined the company in the year as its VP-head shared services HR, India and South Asia. An alumnus of TISS, Chadha has also worked with several other companies such as Ranbaxy, Oracle and Genpact.
In a related move, Vikas Agarwal, current CFO of Air India Express, will take up a new position within Air India.
For flight operations, Capt. Hamish Maxwell, SVP-flight operations, Vistara, will assume an advisory role to Aloke Singh at Air India Express, while Capt. Pushpinder Singh, chief operations officer, Air India Express, returns to his piloting duties. Further changes also include Vinod Bhatt, CIO, Vistara, to senior position within other Tata Group companies.
A new COO for Air India Express will also be named soon.
Meanwhile, Vistara’s CFO, Niyant Maru, who extended his service past retirement to support the merger, will retire at the end of his current term. Additionally, all other CXO roles and reporting structures within Air India Group remain unchanged.
Commenting on the transitions, Campbell Wilson, CEO and MD, Air India, stated: “As we approach the merger’s final stage, we’re pleased to establish a Group leadership team that embodies the experience and dedication from each airline, setting the course for our next chapter. I extend deep appreciation to those retiring or transitioning within the Tata Group, whose contributions have been invaluable not only to the consolidation but to shaping the identity of the new Air India.”
