Former Vistara, SpiceJet executive Sanjiv Kapoor appointed as CEO of Jet Airways

Jalan Kalrock consortium, the new proposed promoters of Jet Airways, on Friday announced the appointment of Sanjiv Kapoor as the chief executive officer (CEO) of the low-cost carrier. The country’s oldest private airline is preparing for a comeback after being grounded for three years following a bankruptcy.

Last week, the airline appointed former Sri Lankan Airlines chief executive Vipula Gunatilleka as the chief financial officer (CFO) of Jet Airways (India). The New Delhi-based carrier has started hiring trainers, captains and co-pilots as it plans to relaunch operations later this year.

Sanjiv Kapoor, who earlier served as the chief strategy and commercial officer at Vistara and the chief operating officer at SpiceJet, will be joining from April 4, 2022. He is currently President of Oberoi Hotels & Resorts.

Before joining the Oberoi Group, Sanjiv was the Chief Strategy and Commercial Officer at Vistara, a Tata - Singapore Airline Joint Venture, from 2016 until 2019. Prior to Vistara, Sanjiv led SpiceJet, India’s second largest LCC, through its unprecedented turnaround in 2014-2015 as its COO and de facto CEO from November 2013 until October 2015.

“I am happy to have Sanjiv join our team. Sanjiv is a people’s person and has all qualities of a great leader. I am certain he will be able to lead Jet Airways and make it become the most preferred full-service carrier of India. Sanjiv is a seasoned aviation professional who has the right blend and demeanour to stitch a team together,” says Murari Lal Jalan, lead partner of the Jalan-Kalrock consortium and proposed Non-Executive Chairman of Jet Airways.

“I always believe in investing in human capital and by having Sanjiv as the CEO and Vipula as the CFO, I am certain Jet Airways will reclaim its lost glory and surpass everyone’s expectation,” Jalan added.

Sanjiv, a Wharton MBA, started his airline career with Northwest Airlines (now merged with Delta) in the US in 1997, where he worked in finance and corporate planning. In 2004, Sanjiv joined Bain and Company (in Singapore, and subsequently in Dallas and London) as a leader in their airline practice, working with global airline clients on projects ranging from strategy and performance improvement/ turnaround, to network, alliances, and customer experience. Sanjiv’s previous employers include Temasek Holdings, Singapore, and Oracle Corporation.

Speaking on his new role as the CEO, Sanjiv Kapoor said “I am looking forward to getting back to aviation, an industry I am passionate about, with Jet Airways, one of the warmest, classiest and most loved brands to have graced Indian aviation. Even though Jet Airways has been out of operation for three years, it still has a large fan base of loyal customers who miss it every day and can’t wait for it to take to the skies again.”

“Working together with a very strong team of experienced aviation professionals that is being put together by the Jalan-Kalrock Consortium, I look forward to leading the charge in rebuilding Jet Airways into the most preferred customer-oriented airline once again, a people-focused airline for the digital age,” he further stated.

Jet Airways was grounded on April 17, 2019, and underwent the corporate insolvency resolution process from 20 June 2019 until 22 June 2021. The Jalan Kalrock consortium emerged as bidder after the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) approved its resolution plan for Jet Airways. As per the approved plan, the Jalan Kalrock Consortium will be the new promoters of the carrier.