MAM
Drive Fitt appoints Vikram Bhatia as CEO, aiming to revolutionise fitness
Mumbai: Drive Fitt has appointed Vikram Aditya Bhatia as its new chief executive officer. With over 30 years of leadership in the global fitness industry and a history in competitive sports, Vikram is set to spearhead Drive Fitt’s strategic vision, expand operations, and enhance the company’s commitment to offering unparalleled fitness experiences.
Vikram brings a wealth of experience from his previous roles, including Fitness First India’s managing director and leading the brand’s expansion in the Middle East. He also facilitated the sale of Fitness First India for global hedge fund Oaktree Capital and has designed cutting-edge fitness clubs worldwide. Bhatia’s contributions to the industry were recognised in 2022 when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame for a leading virtual fitness platform.
Sharing his vision for Drive Fitt, Bhatia said, “I’m excited to join Drive Fitt, where we’re making fitness and cricket more accessible for enthusiasts. In India, cricket holds deep emotional value, but few have access to play it in a convenient, organised setting. Drive Fitt will change that by offering dedicated, structured environments in well-designed real estate—whether mixed-use or multi-family—allowing enthusiasts to immerse themselves in the game. Our mission is to meet the demand for accessible cricket and fitness experiences. With Drive Fitt, we aim to ‘PVR-ise’ cricket, multi-format fitness, and recovery. We’re also introducing a unique ‘running room,’ crucial to both cricket and fitness, blending sport, recovery, and social self-care in a new way.”
Co-founder & chairman Mark Sellar expressed, “We’re thrilled to have Vikram Aditya Bhatia join Drive Fitt as CEO. His extensive experience in building high-performance fitness brands and his passion for sport align perfectly with our vision. Together, we’re creating a unique space where fitness and cricket enthusiasts can thrive. Vikram’s leadership will be pivotal as we scale Drive Fitt across India and internationally, bringing world-class fitness experiences to communities everywhere.”
Co-founder & MD, Deke Smith added, “Vikram’s proven track record in the global fitness industry makes him the ideal leader for this next phase of growth. At Drive Fitt, we aim to innovate the way people engage with fitness, blending sport, recovery, and social well-being. With Vikram at the helm, we’re confident we’ll set new standards in the industry, delivering unparalleled value to our members and driving the future of fitness in India and beyond.”
MAM
Indigo appoints Aloke Singh as Chief Strategy Officer
Air India Express MD joins to steer global growth and operational efficiency.
MUMBAI: Indigo just recruited its next big strategist from the rival camp because when you’re chasing the skies, sometimes the best way to fly higher is to borrow the pilot who already knows the route. InterGlobe Aviation, parent company of IndiGo, announced on 23 March 2026 that its board has approved the appointment of Aloke Singh as Chief Strategy Officer. Singh, who most recently served as managing director and CEO of Air India Express, will lead enterprise-wide strategic planning, operational efficiency initiatives and the airline’s aggressive push into international routes.
Reporting initially to managing director Rahul Bhatia and later to Indigo’s incoming CEO Singh brings over three decades of experience across strategy, operations and commercial functions in aviation. At Air India Express he drove network expansion and performance turnaround, earlier roles at Air India and Oman Air sharpened his focus on long-term planning.
“Aloke brings an exceptional blend of strategic vision and operational depth,” Bhatia said. “His experience will be critical as Indigo seeks to build a more agile, resilient and future-ready organisation.”
The appointment arrives at a pivotal moment. Indigo, India’s dominant domestic carrier, has faced intense scrutiny after operational disruptions in December 2025 thousands of cancelled and delayed flights due to crew scheduling misalignments with new pilot fatigue norms triggering fines, passenger chaos and regulatory heat. Former CEO Pieter Elbers resigned in March 2026 citing personal reasons, though his exit followed sustained pressure from those setbacks and rising costs.
Singh described joining Indigo as “a pivotal moment” for both the airline and Indian aviation, as the carrier accelerates beyond its domestic stronghold into a more competitive global arena.
In an industry where turbulence is measured in both altitude and headlines, Indigo isn’t just hiring a strategist, it’s recruiting a steady hand to navigate from domestic dominance to international takeoff, one calculated flight plan at a time.
