Brands
ACC Trust’s social aid to migrant labourers, underprivileged
NEW DELHI: Businesses not only have access to several resources but also outreach to distribute them within the society. In times of crisis, it becomes their responsibility to contribute not only towards the economy directly but also to help the society stand on its feet. Keeping this in mind, the ongoing Covid2019 crisis saw ACC Ltd taking several initiatives to contribute to the goodwill of the whole society.
The brand’s CSR head Kurian Chandapillai tells Indiantelevision.com that the brand has spent close to Rs 5 crore under the aegis of ACC Trust to help migrant labourers and villagers near its plants in the past few weeks. It has also partnered with Ambuja Cement in several initiatives to support the needy in these tough times.
“We have been doing CSR activities for close to four decades now, even before it was legally mandated in India. The ACC Trust was started a few years ago to take on our social initiatives. We were very active during the recent Kerala, Orissa and Bihar floods for rehabilitation and relief drives. “We have partnered with several women self-help groups and NGOs to support the community,” Chandapillai elaborates.
During the crisis, the brand has worked on several initiatives including awareness campaigns in 93 villages across 11 states, disinfection drives benefitting over 3,75,000 people, production and distribution of face masks under alternative livelihood centres (DISHA), and distribution of more than 10,000 packets of provisions and food to migrant labourers and the disadvantaged. The women at SHGs also produced and sold sanitizers to keep themselves financially stable in the crisis.
Chandapillai says: “We have also partnered with three NGOs, Goonj, Roti Bank and Praja foundation, for taking our initiatives to cities like Delhi and Mumbai. Also, we have been supplying ventilators, in collaboration with Ambuja Cement, to hospitals in Mumbai and Gujarat.”
All these drives were organised keeping in mind social distancing norms. All the members going on the ground were given clean pairs of protective gears every day. It was ensured that no one defied any legal guidelines.
Brands
IndiGo taps IATA director general Willie Walsh as CEO for next phase
IATA chief to take over in August as airline sharpens international play
MUMBAI: IndiGo has tapped Willie Walsh as its next chief executive officer, signalling a decisive push to expand its global footprint and steady operations after a turbulent start to the year.
Walsh, currently director general of the International Air Transport Association, will take over the top job subject to regulatory approvals. His tenure at IATA is set to conclude on July 31, 2026, with his joining at IndiGo expected by August 3, 2026.
The appointment follows the exit of Pieter Elbers, who stepped down on March 10, 2026, just months after the airline grappled with network-wide disruptions that put its operational resilience under scrutiny.
Welcoming the move, IndiGo chairman Vikram Singh said, “I am thrilled that Willie will be at helm of IndiGo. He is an exceptional global aviation leader with a stellar track record of outstanding leadership across several airlines. His experience in managing large scale airline operations and navigating complex market dynamics make him ideally suited to strengthen and lead IndiGo for continued growth in an ever evolving and competitive international aviation environment.”
For his part, Walsh struck an optimistic note on the road ahead, “The aviation landscape is evolving rapidly, and IndiGo is extremely well-positioned to be at the forefront of this change. I look forward to partnering with colleagues across the organisation to build a culture of excellence, innovation, collaboration and sustainable value for all stakeholders” he said.
The leadership change comes at a time when IndiGo is sharpening its long-haul ambitions and looking to cement its position beyond the domestic market. With Walsh at the controls, the airline appears set to double down on scale, stability and a stronger international presence in the years ahead.
