Ronojoy Dutta to retire as IndiGo CEO, Pieter Elbers next in line

Ronojoy Dutta will step down as the chief executive officer (CEO) of no-frills airline IndiGo with effect from September 30, 2022. He will be succeeded by Pieter Elbers, who will join the company on or before October 1, 2022.

“The Board of Directors of the Company, at its meeting held today, May 18, 2022, has approved the appointment of Pieter Elbers as the chief executive officer and as a whole time director of the company, subject to necessary regulatory and shareholders’ approvals. His appointment as the chief executive officer is expected to be effective from October 01, 2022,” reads an exchange filing by IndiGo’s parent company Interglobe Aviation.

“The Board has also taken note of the resignation of Ronojoy Dutta as the whole time director and chief executive officer with effect from September 30, 2022,” it further adds.

Ronojoy Dutta, popularly known as Rono, has held the top office at IndiGo since 2019. During his tenure at the company, he oversaw operations during the tough Covid-19 times and an ugly legal spat between founder Rahul Bhatia and Rakesh Gangwal.

“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,” says Dutta while announcing his retirement.

“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,” says co-founder and managing director Rahul Bhatia.

Elbers, 52, has served as the president and chief executive officer of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. He is also a member of the executive committee of the Air France-KLM Group. He started his career at KLM in 1992 at their Schiphol hub and over time, held several managerial positions in both the Netherlands and overseas in Japan, Greece and Italy.

After his return to the Netherlands, Elbers was appointed as the senior vice president of network and alliances at KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, before he was promoted in 2011 as the chief operating officer.

Born in Schiedam, the Netherlands, Elbers holds a bachelor’s degree in logistics management and a master's degree in business economics.

On his appointment as the next IndiGo CEO, Elbers says, “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.”

“We are thrilled to announce the appointment of Pieter Elbers as the chief executive officer 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,” Bhatia says.