Tata Group to retain Air India's top management

01 Jul 2024

According to a report, the Tata Group aims to swiftly consolidate its airline business. Sources mentioned in the report indicated that all senior executives currently serving at Air India are anticipated to retain their positions post-merger. It was reported that Campbell Wilson is set to continue in his role as the chief executive officer, while Nipun Aggarwal and Sanjay Sharma will remain in their positions as the chief commercial and transformation officer, and chief financial officer, respectively.

In contrast, Vistara CEO Vinod Kannan is expected to return to Singapore Airlines (SIA), his parent company. Since 2019, Kannan had been seconded to Vistara, where he served as the chief strategy officer for the joint venture between Tata Sons and SIA. Under the terms of the joint venture agreement, SIA retained the right to appoint the CEO of Vistara, while the Tata Group selected its finance chief.

While a majority of Vistara employees are slated to transition to the merged entity, certain positions may face elimination due to redundancies, as Air India has already filled similar roles. Air India has actively pursued recruitment efforts, attracting talent from other Tata Group companies and startups to revamp its operations. Additionally, some Vistara employees have already been reassigned to roles within Air India.

A source quoted in the report remarked, "Vistara has been a remarkable brand. The team has performed exceptionally well, but there is a broader objective to ensure continuity within the larger entity."

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