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DS Group appoints Subrat Chakravarty as corporate CHRO
NATIONAL: DS Group has appointed Subrat Chakravarty as corporate CHRO, tasking him with leading the conglomerate’s human resources function and driving its people and process transformation agenda. The appointment comes as the FMCG-focused group sharpens its push towards building a future-ready organisation aligned with long-term growth ambitions.
Chakravarty brings more than three decades of human resources experience across global and Indian organisations, spanning technology, consulting and consumer businesses. His career includes senior leadership roles at HCL Technologies, Aon Hewitt, L&T Infotech, IPCL and Bata India, where he focused on large-scale HR transformation, talent management and organisational design. His work has blended HR technology, data analytics and human judgement to align people strategies with business outcomes.
DS Group senior vice president–corporate strategy and business development Anshu Dewan, said Chakravarty’s track record in leading complex HR transformations would be critical as the group strengthens its position as a leading FMCG conglomerate. Chakravarty said DS Group’s legacy and forward-looking vision offered an opportunity to build technology- and process-led people strategies aligned with the group’s values and business objectives.
Chakravarty holds a postgraduate degree in personnel management and industrial relations from Xavier Institute of Social Service, Ranchi, and a bachelor’s degree in economics (honours) from St Xavier’s College, Ranchi.
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IndiGo names William Walsh CEO
Former IATA chief to take charge in August after Elbers exit, Bhatia steers interim
India’s biggest airline has moved fast and gone global. InterGlobe Aviation, which operates IndiGo, has tapped aviation heavyweight William Walsh as chief executive officer, subject to regulatory approvals, marking a sharp pivot as the carrier eyes its next burst of expansion.
Walsh, currently director general at the International Air Transport Association, will step down on July 31, 2026, and is expected to take charge by August 3. The appointment comes barely three weeks after Pieter Elbers exited the corner office, with Rahul Bhatia holding the fort in the interim.
The choice signals intent. Walsh brings decades of cockpit-to-boardroom experience, having led British Airways and later International Airlines Group, the parent of Aer Lingus, Iberia and Vueling. His tenure across carriers has been defined by hard resets, restructurings and cross-border consolidation—skills IndiGo may need as competition intensifies and scale becomes decisive.
Vikram Singh Mehta, chairman and non-executive independent director of IndiGo, said Walsh’s experience in managing large-scale airline operations and navigating complex market dynamics makes him well-suited to lead IndiGo in an increasingly competitive global aviation environment, adding that the appointment marks a new chapter as the airline scales in one of the world’s fastest-growing markets.
Rahul Bhatia said Walsh’s global perspective, operational expertise and customer-focused approach would be critical as IndiGo enters its next phase of expansion.
Walsh, widely regarded as one of the industry’s most influential figures, will oversee overall management and strategic direction, with a mandate spanning operational performance, network expansion, commercial strategy and customer experience. He is expected to work closely with the board and leadership team to sharpen IndiGo’s growth trajectory.
Walsh said IndiGo has a strong foundation and is well-positioned to capitalise on the evolving aviation landscape, adding that he looks forward to fostering a culture of excellence, innovation and sustainable value creation across the organisation.
A new captain, a bigger runway—and a market that rewards scale. IndiGo is lining up for its next take-off.
