Sumantran brings 37 years of experience to the role. He is currently the Chairman and Managing Director of Celeris Technologies, a strategic advisory firm engaged in the domains of automotive, mobility, digital transformation, and technologies. He also serves on the Boards of Rane Holdings Limited, and TVS Electronics Limited.
InterGlobe Aviation Limited, the owning company of IndiGo, has named Venkataramani Sumantran as the new Chairman of the Board. Sumantran will succeed M Damodaran, who steps down as an independent non-executive director on attaining the age of 75 years, in the post.
Sumantran is an Independent Non-Executive Director on the company Board since May 28, 2020. Sumantran is a business leader, technocrat, and academic, having worked in the USA, Europe, and Asia through a career spanning over 37 years. He is currently the Chairman and Managing Director of Celeris Technologies, a strategic advisory firm engaged in the domains of automotive, mobility, digital transformation, and technologies. He also serves on the Boards of Rane Holdings Limited, and TVS Electronics Limited.
He has served on the Science Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India, and the Scientific Advisory Committee to the Indian Cabinet. Most recently, he served as the Lead-Member of the Consultative Group on Future Transportation at the Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India. He also served as a Distinguished Visiting Professor at IIT Madras and Adjunct Professor at MIT MISI.
Rahul Bhatia, Managing Director, IndiGo, thanked the services of Damodaran and welcomed Sumantran to the new office. “It has been a great privilege to have had the benefit of Damodaran’s wise counsel and steady hand during the difficult and often turbulent Covid period. We have all learned a lot from him on leading-edge governance practices, and his distinguishing leadership and philosophy have left an indelible mark on the IndiGo Board.”
“Dr. Sumantran is an outstanding business leader as well as a highly experienced member of the IndiGo Board, thereby facilitating a seamless transition of the Chairmanship of the Board. As we get ready for the next phase of our ambitious overseas expansion, Sumantran’s understanding of international markets and world-class global practices will serve us well. His repertoire of knowledge of how best to leverage technology will be extremely valuable in our future growth. With safety and employee engagement as our key pillars, we have always found Sumantran’s insights invaluable,” he added.
