New Delhi: InterGlobe Aviation (IndiGo) has appointed Pieter Elbers as chief executive officer (CEO), the company said in a stock exchange filing on Wednesday.
Elbers (52) will join the airline on October 1, 2022, subject to necessary regulatory and shareholders' approvals, IndiGo said.
The budget airline carrier said, “Elbers succeeds Ronojoy Dutta (71) who has decided to retire on September 30, 2022, after guiding IndiGo through the turbulent Covid period.”
Elbers has previously worked as the president and CEO of KLM Royal Dutch since 2014 and is an acting member of Air France-KLM Group’s executive committee.
Started career at KLM in 1992 at their Schiphol hub, Elbers over time held several managerial positions in both The Netherlands and in Japan, Greece, and Italy.
Later he returned to The Netherlands and was appointed as the senior vice-president of Network & Alliances, before he was promoted in 2011 as the chief operating officer.
Elbers, who was born in Schiedam, The Netherlands, received a Bachelor’s degree in logistics management and a Master’s Degree in Business Economics.
In the news release, IndiGo’s MD Rahul Bhatia 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.”
While welcoming Elbers, Bhatia said, “We are thrilled to announce the appointment of Pieter Elbers as the CEO of the company. India promises to be the last bastion of ginormous growth globally and given Elbers’ deep understanding of the business, his legendary leadership qualities coupled with his energy and passion, we are ever so confident that under his stewardship, IndiGo will play a pivotal role in this growth opportunity.”
In his reply, Elbers responded, “What IndiGo’s employees and leadership have jointly built, since its start 16 years ago, is, by any standard, truly impressive. I am very honoured and do look forward to build upon this, working together with the entire IndiGo team. I am delighted to become a part of the next stage of IndiGo’s incredible journey, further fulfilling the vision of what the airline can do and will be for its customers and for India.”
On the other hand, incumbent CEO Dutta said, “I leave knowing that IndiGo is in the good custody of 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.”