IndiGo: After CFO, IndiGo’s chief commercial officer Willy Boulter also quits

IndiGo’s chief commercial officer Willy Boulter will leave the airline in July, marking the second top level exit this year after its CFO Jiten Chopra was replaced by Gaurav Negi on Wednesday.

The two exits shows a rare management churn in India’s biggest airline by market share, in which founder Rahul Bhatia recently took on the additional role of managing director. His partner since the airline’s inception, Rakesh Gangwal, exited the board after years of a bitter legal feud with Bhatia.

Gangwal, who now owns about 37% stake is free to sell his shares without Bhatia’s approval. Bhatia, usually a hands-off founder has been taking a keener interest in the day-to-day business of the airline, said people in the know.

“The churn is part of a long term plan, which includes a focus on international operations, among other things” one of them said.

Sanjay Kumar chief strategy and revenue officer will now also head its overseas business. IndiGo is also hiring Vinay Malhotra, former group chief operating officer of VFS Global as head of international sales. Malhotra will report to Kumar.

People in the know said Boulter, 64, is reaching the end of his contract this year and wants to retire.

Boulter joined IndiGo in 2018. He has been in the airline business for over 35 years. He worked with Cathay Pacific for 20 years and thereafter with other airlines including Virgin Atlantic Airways, South African, Etihad and an Emirates-sponsored team in Angola. He was CEO of Russia’s first Low Cost Carrier, Sky Express.

Malhotra joined VFS Global in 2013 has head of special projects. Prior to that, he had held senior roles in Emirates Airline, Swissair and Galileo.