MAM
Rob Norman quits GroupM
MUMBAI: GroupM’s global chief digital officer Rob Norman has decided to retire from his full-time role effective January 2018. Hewill remain an advisor to GroupM and its clients, with a reduced workload that allows him more time to pursue personal interests.
Norman decided to call it quits after giving over 31 years of his life to CIA, MEC and GroupM.
GroupM global CEO Kelly Clark says, “Happily, this is not goodbye. We thank Rob for his loyal service and for continuing to share his passion and vision for this business as GroupM and the industry continue to evolve. Rob has been a fantastic partner to our clients, our people and our company, so I’m delighted that he will continue in an advisory capacity.”
On his exit, Norman says, “GroupM, WPP and before that CIA, have been my work, my life and almost always my pleasure. My friends in the business know that I’ve become very attached to a rural life and understand that after 31 years, it’s time to do other things. It’s a curiosity of our business that few people get to step back, yet stay involved; I’m honoured that GroupM is allowing me to do exactly that.”
Brands
IndiGo appoints captain Rohit Rikhye as head of operations control centre
Leadership change follows dgca penalties and december flight disruptions
MUMBAI: IndiGo has appointed Captain Rohit Rikhye as the new head of its operations control centre (OCC). The appointment, effective immediately following an internal announcement on Friday, sees Rikhye take over from Jason Herter. He will report directly to the chief operating officer (COO), Isidre Porqueras.
Captain Rikhye brings over 11 years of experience within IndiGo to the role. He previously served as chief pilot for standards, QA, and ops safety. In his new position, he is responsible for the airline’s central nerve centre, overseeing flight operations, including real-time coordination, planning, and dispatch; tracking and compliance, ensuring all flights adhere to air traffic control and safety regulations; and resource management, handling crew scheduling and rostering across the network.
The leadership transition comes after a period of significant operational challenges in December 2025. These lapses resulted in strict intervention from the directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA) in January 2026.
According to statements made by additional solicitor general Chetan Sharma on behalf of the civil aviation ministry, the regulator imposed penalties totalling Rs 22 crore on the airline. The regulatory response also led to the dismissal of a senior vice-president to address the systemic issues identified during the disruptions.
The OCC is critical to the airline’s daily performance, managing everything from flight paths to crew availability. By appointing a veteran from the safety and standards division, IndiGo aims to strengthen its regulatory compliance and ensure operational stability moving forward.
