Synopsis

Rahul Bhatia has begun grooming his son Madhav Bhatia for a future leadership role at IndiGo, exposing him to executive meetings and mentoring under InterGlobe Enterprises CEO Aditya Pande. The move comes amid leadership changes and increased promoter oversight following last year's operational disruptions, as India's largest airline prepares for its next phase of global expansion.

New Delhi: Rahul Bhatia, the billionaire cofounder of IndiGo, is initiating his son Madhav Bhatia into the business, laying the groundwork for succession planning at one of the world's largest airlines.

Over the last few months, Madhav - in his mid-20s - has been attending the airline's executive committee meetings besides being paired with senior executives across departments, said people aware of the development.

Since his graduation in 2023, the younger Bhatia has been mentored by Aditya Pande, CEO of InterGlobe Enterprises, the Bhatia family-owned holding company and IndiGo's single-largest shareholder with a 36% stake.

ET Bureau

Besides operating India's largest airline, InterGlobe also has a major presence in hospitality, operating around 30 hotels nationwide in partnership with France's Accor under the Ibis, Pullman, and Novotel brands. It also runs India's largest pilot training company in partnership with Canadian firm CAE. Over the last few years, InterGlobe has been looking to enter new businesses such as logistics, air taxis, and AI.

Bhatia's daughter Sumati is pursuing a career in interior design.

"Rahul believes that he (the younger Bhatia) should understand the business closely and prove his own mettle rather than being parachuted into the corner room," said a person close to the group. "InterGlobe has some veteran leaders who have worked for decades with the company. Madhav is being closely mentored by them."

InterGlobe Enterprises and IndiGo didn't respond to ET's queries.

Madhav's more active role comes at a time when IndiGo is facing a leadership transition, with industry veteran Willie Walsh taking charge as CEO next month following the resignation of Pieter Elbers in March.

Senior IndiGo officials said Madhav's grooming also signals greater promoter oversight following the operational meltdown in December, when a shortage of pilots forced the airline to cancel more than 3,000 flights in a week.

While IndiGo has largely been a professionally run company-with the CEO as its public face and full autonomy over business decisions-Rahul Bhatia, 66, has been deeply involved in operations as interim CEO since December. He has been engaging with external stakeholders and institutional investors and has roped in Aloke Singh, former CEO of Air India Express, along with trusted executives from InterGlobe, into key positions at IndiGo.

Kanwal Jeet Singh Bakshi and Kiran Thadimari, who earlier worked at InterGlobe Enterprises, have been brought in as chief human resources officer and deputy chief financial officer, respectively.

"Bhatia takes pride in having built IndiGo into not merely a strong airline but a public utility for the country," said a senior IndiGo executive. "What happened in December was his worst nightmare. It is expected that he will keep a close watch."

Investors are closely watching the transition as the company enters its next phase of growth, inducting wide-body aircraft to foray into transcontinental routes.

"IndiGo has a history of founder-led oversight complemented by professional CEOs, with promoters maintaining strategic control," Prateek Kumar, analyst at Jefferies wrote in a recent note. "Past management changes have not disrupted the operating model, cost leadership, or market share leadership, reflecting strong institutional depth."