Former NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant appointed as a non-executive director at IndiGo

Amitabh Kant, the former CEO of the government think tank NITI Aayog and, more recently, India’s Sherpa during the G20 presidency, has been appointed as the non-executive director of IndiGo , subject to regulatory and shareholder approval, the airline said on Thursday.

Vikram Singh Mehta, the chairman of the board of directors at IndiGo, said in a statement that Kant’s leadership qualities will benefit India’s largest airline, especially in its fast-paced international expansion. “IndiGo’s team can leverage his broad-based experience and knowledge in achieving its vision of becoming a global player by 2030,” Mehta added.

Kant, on the other hand, lauded IndiGo’s achievement of ‘transforming’ air travel in India, which, according to him, is emerging as a global benchmark for operational excellence and customer experience. “With its scale, efficiency, and international ambition, IndiGo will open up new markets for India, and transform our airports into global hubs of connectivity and commerce—driving tourism, trade, and investment, while linking people, markets, and opportunities across borders,” he added.

His appointment comes at a time when IndiGo, India's largest airline, is aggressively expanding its international route offerings. On July 1, IndiGo inaugurated its first-ever, direct long-haul service between Mumbai and Manchester. According to IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers, the service is operated by the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, which is damp-leased from Norse Atlantic Airways.

IndiGo announced in May that it plans to add 10 new international destinations, including London, Copenhagen, and Athens, in the coming year, bringing its total number of international destinations to over 50. As IndiGo’s fleet of damp-leased Boeing 787s expands later this year, the airline is planning to expand its long-haul network to London and Copenhagen.

In June, Kant, in a LinkedIn post, announced that he was stepping down as India’s G20 Sherpa. “After 45 years of dedicated service to the Government, I have decided to embrace new opportunities and begin a new chapter. I am deeply grateful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for accepting my resignation as India’s G20 Sherpa and for the trust he placed in me to drive developmental initiatives that shaped India’s growth trajectory,” he wrote.

However, at the time, Kant did not specify where he was headed next. He wrote on LinkedIn that he looks forward to India’s journey towards 'Viksit Bharat' by supporting free enterprise, startups, think tanks, and academic institutions.

Amitabh Kant is an IAS officer of the 1980 batch of the Kerala cadre and has had a bureaucratic career spanning over four decades. As the G20 Sherpa, he oversaw the historic New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration, which emphasised tackling global issues, catalysing growth, expanding India’s digital public infrastructure, and advocating ambitious reforms in climate finance, geopolitics, and technology.

“Despite complex global challenges, we achieved unanimous consensus on the New Delhi Leaders' Declaration, and re-focused attention on key developmental issues. India’s G20 presidency was people-centric and inclusive, with meetings held across all states and Union Territories. This strengthened cooperative federalism, celebrated local culture, and upgraded infrastructure nationwide. We also successfully ensured the inclusion of the African Union in the G20, fulfilling India’s commitment to global equity and the voice of the Global South,” he said in his post.

As the chief executive officer of the NITI Aayog for six years, spearheading the Aspirational Districts Program (ADP), elevating several underdeveloped districts to top performers, recognised by the UNDP. During his tenure, he served in several key roles, including Director on the Board of the National Highways Authority of India and Member of India’s National Statistical Commission.