Brands
Nxtcell India names Atul Vivek as chief executive officer
NEW DELHI: Nxtcell India Pvt. Ltd., the company behind the Alcatel brand in India and select international markets, has elevated Atul Vivek to chief executive officer, effective 1 January 2026.
Vivek steps into the top role after serving as chief business officer, where he played a key part in sharpening Alcatel India’s market playbook, strengthening go to market execution and building teams focused on long term scale. His promotion signals both continuity and ambition as the company gears up for its next phase of expansion.
With nearly two decades of experience across sales, marketing, retail operations and P&L leadership, Vivek brings a well travelled résumé. His career spans consumer and technology heavyweights including Realme, Samsung Group, boAt, Lava, Aditya Birla Group and Future Group, giving him a ringside view of how brands are built, grown and sustained in competitive markets.
As CEO, Vivek will have end to end responsibility for business growth, operations and strategic direction across Alcatel smartphones, its connected ecosystem and other brands within the Nxtcell India portfolio. He will also lead expansion across both Indian and international markets, as the company prepares to launch a new smartphone, an AIoT connected ecosystem and a consumer durables brand.
Nxtcell India managing director Sanjeev Rathi, said the appointment reflects confidence earned over time. “Atul has consistently shown clarity of thought, execution strength and an ability to scale businesses. His elevation reinforces our belief in his leadership as we strengthen our multi brand portfolio and expand globally.”
Vivek called the role a natural next chapter. “It has been a privilege to build Alcatel with the Nxtcell team. Leading the organisation at this moment of growth, while launching new brands and entering new markets, is both exciting and humbling. I look forward to accelerating brand led growth and creating future ready solutions with lasting impact.”
With fresh launches on the horizon and a seasoned hand at the helm, Nxtcell India appears set to keep its foot firmly on the accelerator.
Brands
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.
