Pieter Elbers, the former CEO of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, will become the new chief executive officer of Indian low-cost airline IndiGo.
“What IndiGo’s employees and leadership have jointly built, since its start 16 years ago, is, by any standard, truly impressive,” Elbers said in a press release.
On January 13, 2022, Elbers announced that after eight years as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Management Board of KLM, he would not pursue a third term. He was succeeded by Marjan Rintel, who will take office on July 1, 2022.
The former head of KLM will take up his new role by October 2022, according to a regulatory filing to the National Stock Exchange of India.
He will succeed Ronojoy Dutta, who became CEO of IndiGo in 2019 and has now decided to retire.
“I leave knowing that IndiGo is in the good custody of Mr. Elbers and that the future for IndiGo employees is secure and bright,” commented 71-year-old Dutta.
The appointment of Elbers is the second management change for IndiGo this month. On May 4, 2022, the airline announced the appointment of Venkataramani Sumantran as its Chairman of the Board.
IndiGo is currently India’s largest airline by market share, operating a fleet of 255 aircraft according to Planespotters.com data.