Adani’s airport business sees new appointments

The Adani group has put in place a new organisation structure as it looks to consolidate and grow its airport business.

RK Jain, chief executive officer of Mumbai airport has been elevated as the CEO of the group's airport division. Jain who has been associated with Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) since its inception will also look after the Mumbai airport slum development project and regulatory issues, the group said in a staff announcement.

Jain takes over from Behnad Zandi who will oversee the non aeronautical business at the group level. Prakash Tulsiani will replace Jain as the new CEO of Mumbai airport. Tulsiani who was earlier the CEO of All Cargo Logistics joined Adani group's airport division a few months ago and was in charge of operations.

The changes were announced on Saturday and comes close on the heels of group's acquisition of MIAL from the GVK group.

The Adanis had six airports in their portfolio and with the addition of Mumbai airport the group will control control 25 per cent of passenger footfalls and 33 per cent of India's air cargo and make the group India's largest airport infrastructure company.

In other changes, Captain BVJK Sharma, will be in charge as the CEO of Navi Mumbai airport.

Sharma was earlier the director of ports in Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited. The group has announced that construction work of the greenfield airport in Navi Mumbai will begin next month and financial closure for the project will be completed in ninety days. The group hopes to start the airport in 2024.

BG Gandhi, CEO of Krishnapatnam port will assume role of chief airport officer of Ahmedabad airport. Prabhat Mahapatra, head of operations of MIAL will now be in charge of operations at all group airports in his new role as head operations, Centre of Excellence. Manoj Katar, COO of Dahej port will replace Mahapatra.

Nirav Shah and Vishnu Jha have been appointed as chief airport officers of Mangaluru and Jaipur airports respectively. Rekha Nair, head of airport service at MIAL will take over as head of customer experience and quality for the group's airport division.