Akasa Air’s co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), Praveen Iyer, has stepped down from his role. The airline shared the update in a statement on February 11. Anand Srinivasan, currently the Chief Information
Officer (CIO), will take over as Chief Commercial Officer.
This is the second senior exit at the airline in less than three years since it began operations. In October last year, Neelu Khatri, who led international operations, also left the company. Iyer’s exit comes within six months of that move.
The airline said that after a “remarkable five-year journey,” Iyer has chosen to move on and begin the next chapter of his life. The exact reason for his resignation is not known. It is also unclear whether he plans to join another company or start something new. His exit comes a day after a company spokesperson reportedly said tax officials had visited Akasa Air offices as part of routine business checks.
Akasa Air added that Iyer will work closely with the leadership team to ensure a smooth transition until April 30.
The airline began commercial flights on August 7, 2022. It now operates 33 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. Akasa Air is backed by the family of late investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala.
Praveen Iyer’s Journey At The Airline
Praveen Iyer was one of the founding members of Akasa Air. As Chief Commercial Officer, he was also part of the airline’s executive committee. He has more than 20 years of experience in the aviation sector.
Before joining Akasa, Iyer worked with Jet Airways and Qatar Airways. Over the years, he handled key roles in both India and overseas markets. According to the airline’s website, he helped grow revenue and improve overall performance in the companies he worked with.
Speaking about his time at Akasa Air, Iyer said, “Building Akasa Air has been a defining journey and a deeply fulfilling experience. It has been a privilege to be part of an exceptional team, and I am proud of the achievements we have made in such a short span of time. I am confident the airline is well-positioned for its next phase of growth and wish the leadership and employees continued success,” Iyer said on his journey at Akasa Air on Wednesday, as per Live Mint.
Other Leaders Who Built Akasa Air
Akasa Air was started by a group of senior aviation professionals and is supported by the Jhunjhunwala family. The founding team included Vinay Dube, former CEO of Go First and Jet Airways, and Aditya Ghosh, former President of IndiGo. Vinay Dube currently serves as the airline’s CEO.
Other key members of the leadership team include Belson Coutinho as Chief Marketing Officer and Bhavin Joshi as Senior Vice President – Strategy. Sanjay Dube and Niraj Dube were also part of the early planning stage of the airline.
