People

Delhi, 21st October 2025: Chapman Freeborn has announced the appointment of Saska Gerasimova as the new Group CEO. Saska Gerasimova begins in this role on October 20, taking over responsibilities from Eric Erbacher, who moves to a new role as Chair of the Chapman Freeborn Holdings Board of Directors. This leadership transition marks a transformative milestone for Chapman Freeborn. It reflects the company’s commitment to bold renewal, strategic clarity, and global impact. By appointing a new CEO, Chapman Freeborn embraces fresh perspectives, empowersits teams, and reinforcesits long-term vision – ensuring the organisation remains agile, customer-focused, and ready for the future of aviation. Saska Gerasimova boasts a broad range of experience that spans aviation leasing, air freight, logistics, and fleet management. She joins Chapman Freeborn from a position as Senior Supply Chain Manager with Amazon Air Europe, having also worked as Fleet Director and Leasing Manager at Smartwings Group. Saska Gerasimova will be supported in her new role by an engaged and experienced Executive Committee. Group COO Bernardo Nunes, who takes over legal directorships within Chapman Freeborn’s subsidiaries, will play a prominent role in ensuring a smooth transition. Regarding the Board of Directors, Russi Batliwala will remain on the board and provide essential guidance and continuity.

Paris, October 21, 2025: ECS Group has appointed Joao Ferreira as its new Regional Commercial Director for the Americas, a key step in the Group’s growth strategy across one of the most dynamic air cargo markets worldwide. João has worked over 30 year in the GSSA sector, and brings extensive experience and vision to this strategic role. He will lead ECS Group’s commercial efforts across North and Latin America, ensuring airline partners meet their goals while enhancing the customer experience throughout the region. “My mission is to deliver our partner airlines’ commercial targets while providing an outstanding customer experience,” says João Ferreira, Regional Commercial Director – Americas, ECS Group. “The Americas offer significant opportunities, and we will focus on strengthening relationships, building strong leadership teams, and empowering our people to achieve tangible results.” Ferreira’s approach centers on developing a high-performing regional organization, increasing direct engagement with airline and freight forwarding partners, and maximizing the use of ECS Group’s digital tools to drive smarter decisions. By combining the mature U.S. market with the growth potential of Latin America, he aims to build a unified, results-driven commercial network. With longstanding partnerships across the region, Ferreira is set to reinforce ECS Group’s position as the most trusted and agile GSSA partner in the Americas. “João’s appointment underlines ECS Group’s commitment to global leadership through experienced, forward-looking commercial management,” says Jean Ceccaldi, CEO, ECS Group. “His deep knowledge of the Americas and strong customer relationships make him the ideal leader to advance our growth in this vital region.” This appointment reflects ECS Group’s ambition to accelerate sustainable growth, commercial excellence, and stronger customer partnerships across the Americas.

London, 10th October 2025: Leading global aviation advisory firm Alton Aviation Consultancy is pleased to announce its international expansion with the addition of London, United Kingdom, strengthening its global footprint to support growing client demand across the UK and Europe. As a global centre for finance and home to many of the world’s leading airports, airlines, aerospace companies, and investors in aviation, London provides a strategic base for Alton’s continued growth in the region. The London expansion will be led by Augusto Viansson Ponte, who joins Alton as Director. He brings more than 25 years of international aviation advisory experience to his role. Adam Cowburn, co-founder and Managing Director at Alton, says: “Expanding our presence to London gives Alton a stronger foothold in Europe, one of the most dynamic aviation markets worldwide. We are delighted to welcome Augusto as Director of our London base. His experience and insight will be instrumental as we deepen our relationships with clients across the UK and Europe.” Throughout his career, Viansson Ponte has advised airlines, aerospace companies, and defence organizations on complex strategic and financial engagements, with expertise spanning performance improvement, operational transformation, corporate restructuring, and due diligence. Prior to Alton, he was Director of Strategy and Planning at Airline Management Group (AMG) and previously worked at major consultancies including L.E.K. Consulting and AlixPartners. Viansson Ponte adds: “I have long admired Alton’s impressive growth and the reputation it’s built as a trusted aviation advisor. The London presence further enhances the firm’s ability to offer on-the-ground support to clients across the aviation value chain, including airlines, lessors, MRO providers, investors, airports, and OEMs.”

Delhi, October 1st ,2025 IFS, the provider of Industrial AI software, has announced the appointment of Mihita Podobnik as Chief People Officer, succeeding Debra McCowan, who is stepping down from her role as Chief Human Resources Officer. Podobnik was most recently IFS Chief of Staff, where she partnered closely with the executive team to lead strategic initiatives and drive transformation across the business. Her leadership skills and ability to connect strategy with execution will be central to advancing IFS’s people-first agenda. “Mihita is highly respected across IFS and I’m delighted to welcome her into this role,” said Mark Moffat, CEO of IFS. “Her leadership, strategic mindset, and deep connection to our people make her the ideal person to take our high-performance agenda forward at pace. I look forward to seeing her impact as we continue to scale globally. “Debra has played a key role in shaping IFS’s people strategy. Her leadership has left a lasting impact, and I wish her every success in her next chapter.” Commenting on her appointment, Mihita Podobnik said: “I’m honored to take on the role of Chief People Officer at such a pivotal time for IFS. As AI disruption and innovation accelerate, talent is the key enabler of our strategy. By fostering a culture where people can thrive, we will execute on our business priorities, accelerate growth, and strengthen our position as the global Industrial AI leader.”

New Delhi, 10th Sept 2025: Thales announced the appointment of Ankur Kanaglekar as Vice President for India, with effect from 10 September 2025. This strategic appointment underlines Thales’ commitment to expanding its footprint, strengthening local partnerships and accelerating innovation in support of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision. In his role, Ankur will oversee Thales’ strategy and operations in India, focusing on scaling up industrial collaboration, reinforcing local innovation and engineering capabilities, and delivering advanced solutions across defence, aerospace, and cyber and digital markets. With over 25 years of experience in the aerospace and defence industry and consulting, Ankur brings a wealth of expertise in driving strategic growth, fostering partnerships, and leading high-stakes initiatives. Prior to joining Thales, Ankur Kanaglekar spent 14 years at Boeing in India, most recently as Executive Director, where he spearheaded global co-development and co-production initiatives for defence platforms, led large sales campaigns, and shaped several strategic growth initiatives. His leadership in forging partnerships with Indian public and private sector organisations, supporting the Make in India initiative, has been instrumental in advancing defence localisation. Earlier, as an Engagement Manager at PRTM Management Consulting (now part of PwC), he advised Fortune 500 clients on mergers, acquisitions, operations, and go-to-market strategies in aerospace, automotive, and industrial sectors. “I am pleased to welcome Ankur Kanaglekar to Thales. With his proven leadership and deep understanding of the Indian market, we aim to further enhance our support of the country’s ambitious self-reliance objectives, co-develop cutting-edge solutions, and nurture local talent. We remain deeply committed to the Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision and to fostering enduring partnerships across the ecosystem,” said Pascale Sourisse, President & CEO, Thales International. “India is at the heart of Thales’ global strategy, and I am truly honoured to have this opportunity to lead our operations at such a pivotal time. I look forward to working closely with our partners, teams, and other stakeholders to accelerate growth, deepen localisation, and make a meaningful contribution to nation building, supporting India’s technological ambitions and self-reliance journey,” said Ankur Kanaglekar, Vice-President, India, Thales. Ankur holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Pune University, a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Cincinnati, USA, and a Master of Business Administration from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.

Delhi, 9th Sept 2025: Cathay Pacific has announced the appointment of Abhijit Abhyankar as the Regional Head of Customer Travel and Lifestyle. In his new role, Abhijit will oversee customer travel experiences, passenger sales, marketing communications, and lifestyle marketing initiatives across India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa (SAMEA). With a career spanning over two decades in aviation and hospitality, Abhijit brings deep expertise in sales, marketing, and customer engagement to this role. Prior to this appointment, he served as the Regional Head of People for SAMEA., including Head of Marketing and Digital Sales – SAMEA, Regional Marketing Communications Manager – South Asia, and Area Sales Manager – Northern India.He also held the position of Country Manager – Africa and the Indian Ocean, based in Johannesburg. Abhijit began his career in the hospitality sector with Ambassador Hotel, Le Meridien, and Holiday Inn before transitioning to aviation with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and later Air France–KLM. He joined Cathay Pacific in 2009 as Corporate Sales Manager and has since played a pivotal role in strengthening the airline’s commercial and customer-facing strategy in the region. Based in Cathay Pacific’s regional headquarters in Mumbai, Abhijit will lead the airline’s efforts to create seamless and enriching travel experiences for customers while building strategic partnerships in lifestyle, retail, and digital engagement.

Delhi,September 1, 2025: Akasa Air has announced the appointment of Naarayan T V as its Chief Marketing Officer, effective August 29, 2025. In this role, he will oversee the airline’s marketing, corporate communications & ESG, customer experience, eCommerce, customer loyalty, and partnerships functions. He will also serve as a member of Akasa’s Executive Committee. The appointment is aligned with Akasa Air’s accelerated growth journey as it strengthens its brand and customer proposition while progressing towards its vision of becoming one of the top 30 airlines globally by the turn of this decade. With over two decades of cross-industry experience spanning eCommerce, fintech, banking, D2C broking, and global consumer brands, Naarayan brings to Akasa Air a strong blend of strategic vision, digital-first expertise, and customer-centric leadership. He has consistently played a transformative role in shaping leading global and Indian brands, with a body of work that spans marketing communication, digital marketing, market research, product design, user experience, acquisition, sponsorships and IPs, brand building, creative strategy, content marketing, and large-scale product launch campaigns across ATL and BTL platforms. Commenting on the appointment, Vinay Dube, Founder and CEO, Akasa Air, said, “At Akasa Air, we are committed to building a world-class airline powered by our value-driven and service-oriented culture. As we continue to scale, the role of marketing and customer experience will be pivotal in strengthening the Akasa brand and deepening customer trust. Naarayan brings with him a global perspective, proven expertise in transforming brands, and the ability to blend creativity with data-driven insights. His leadership will play an instrumental role in shaping Akasa’s next phase of growth.” Naarayan T V, Chief Marketing Officer, Akasa Air, added, “I believe great marketing is a perfect blend of art and science, and I am deeply passionate about building customer-first brands and great teams. Akasa Air has already carved a distinct position in Indian aviation with its values-led approach and commitment to service. I am excited to join this journey and look forward to working with the team to create meaningful and memorable experiences for our customers”.

Bengaluru, August 26, 2025: Rossell Techsys Ltd. has announced the appointment of Senthil Balasubramanian as its new Chief Executive Officer in India. He brings over three decades of global leadership experience across manufacturing operations. Prior to joining Rossell Techsys, he served as Group President – Manufacturing at Blue Star, where he oversaw operations across seven facilities and a workforce of more than 6,500 employees. His earlier leadership roles include Director of Operations at Collins Aerospace, where he led large-scale operations across engineering, supply chain, and quality, and Country General Manager at ITT Interconnect Solutions, managing programs for marquee aerospace clients including Boeing and Airbus. Most recently, he served as Vice President of Global Operations at Ultra Maritime, overseeing multi-facility production programs supporting the U.S. Navy. On his appointment,Rishab Gupta, Managing Director of Rossell Techsys Ltd., said,“Senthil’s extensive experience in manufacturing and customer-focused delivery aligns strongly with our vision. His leadership will support our ongoing efforts to strengthen capabilities and explore newer industry sectors and markets.” Balasubramanian added,“Rossell Techsys has earned its reputation through consistent quality and engineering excellence. I look forward to contributing to the company’s continued evolution as it explores opportunities across sectors and geographies, including in the domestic market.”

Mumbai, 1 August 2025: Air New Zealand has announced the appointment of Nikhil Ravishankar as its next Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Greg Foran who steps down in October after almost six years leading the airline through one of the most challenging periods in aviation history. Currently the airline’s Chief Digital Officer, Nikhil will officially take over as CEO on 20 October 2025. In the nearly five years that Nikhil has been at Air New Zealand he has gained a deep understanding of the aviation sector, and the airline. He has also led major advances in the airline’s technology backbone, loyalty program and customer proposition. Air New Zealand Board Chair, Dame Therese Walsh, says the appointment marks the beginning of the next chapter for the airline, reflecting the strong momentum underway and a new generation of leadership for the future. “Across Air New Zealand, we are very clear on what matters most – connecting our communities and country to each other and the world, delivering value and excellence, and running a world-class airline that all Kiwi are proud of. “We have always been bold and not afraid to adapt and lead. Nikhil brings the mindset and contemporary leadership we need to build on our strong foundations and focus on the future. The Board undertook an extensive international search and were delighted to see Nikhil come through the process so strongly. His ambition for the airline’s future and his people leadership skills, coupled with his pursuit of excellence, digital literacy, global outlook and relationships, and his deep care for the airline and New Zealand shone through. “Airlines will continue to face immense challenges, whether that’s climate change, customer expectations, technology, cost pressures or geopolitics. Nikhil brings a fresh perspective that is grounded in New Zealand values and a deep knowledge of the airline and critical infrastructure across different sectors. He’s not afraid to challenge how things are done and ask questions,” says Dame Therese Walsh. Prior to Air New Zealand, Nikhil was Chief Digital Officer at Vector and Managing Director of Accenture. “I’m both thrilled and humbled to be given this opportunity to lead Air New Zealand,” says Nikhil. “This airline is an institution with a deep legacy but also a fantastic future. It’s a privilege to step into the CEO role and take on that responsibility for our people, our customers, and our country. “Airlines are complex, and safety underpins every decision we make. I truly believe that New Zealand is one of the most innovative nations in the world and one of the greatest destinations to visit. Our airline is amongst the very best and I get to work with some of the most dedicated people in the country, from our cabin crew, engineers and pilots to our ground teams, corporate and digital teams behind the scenes. At the end of the day, we are a people business – purposeful, ambitious, and deeply rooted in Aotearoa New Zealand, and I’m excited to help shape what this next stage of Air New Zealand looks like,” says Nikhil Ravishankar.

Delhi,10th July, 2025: IFS,the provider of enterprise cloud and Industrial AI software, announced the appointment of Kriti Sharma as CEO of IFS Nexus Black. This strategic move reinforces IFS’s commitment to Industrial AI and fast-tracks the development of agentic AI systems designed for the asset- and service-intensive industries it serves. Sharma is a globally recognized AI leader with a strong track record in building enterprise AI products and scaling responsible AI initiatives. She joins IFS from Thomson Reuters, where she served as Chief Product Officer for LegalTech, leading major AI transformations. She previously held senior AI roles at Sage Group and GfK, and is a non-executive board member of Rightmove PLC. Her work has been recognized by Forbes 30 Under 30, the UK Prime Minister’s Points of Light award, and the United Nations, where she was named a Young Leader for her contributions to ethical and inclusive AI. As CEO of Nexus Black, IFS’s AI innovation accelerator launched earlier this year, Sharma will lead the design and delivery of domain-specific, agentic AI for industries such as manufacturing, energy, aerospace, and construction. She will work closely with customers to deliver practical, scalable applications that solve complex, high-value, industry-specific challenges. Kriti Sharma, CEO of IFS Nexus Black, said: “GenAI was just the starting line. The real opportunity lies beyond generic tools. The revolution happens with contextual, agentic AI that solves deeply complex, industry-specific problems. From predicting critical asset failures to optimizing global supply chains, with Nexus Black we’re not just building AI—we’re building intelligence that works in the real world.” Joining Sharma is Nick Vandivere, appointed Chief Innovation Officer, Nexus Black. Vandivere also joins from Thomson Reuters and will lead the expansion of the IFS Industrial AI pipeline. He will focus on frontier use cases and strategic technology investments, working closely with Sharma to accelerate agentic AI delivery across the IFS Cloud platform. Mark Moffat, CEO of IFS, said: “This is a critical moment in our AI journey. We’re not just exploring what’s possible, we’re building what’s needed. With Kriti at the helm of Nexus Black and an exceptional team of leaders driving innovation across our business, IFS is uniquely positioned to deliver Industrial AI that is contextual, agentic, and deeply relevant to the industries we serve.” These appointments reflect the continued IFS investment in delivering intelligent automation, real-time decision-making, and AI agents purpose-built to solve the challenges of industries that maintain critical infrastructure and services.