Who is Pieter Elbers, CEO of embattled IndiGo airlines
What's the story
Pieter Elbers, the Dutch Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of IndiGo, has been making headlines after the airline canceled several flights, stranding thousands of passengers across India. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has now issued a show-cause notice to Elbers for these operational disruptions. The regulatory body has given him 24 hours to explain the widespread cancelations and delays that occurred over a week.
Career path
Elbers's journey in aviation and his role at IndiGo
Elbers, who is 55 years old, is an aviation veteran. He was the CEO of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines from 2014 to 2022 before joining IndiGo. Born in South Holland, Netherlands, in 1970, he studied Logistics Management at Fontys University of Applied Sciences and holds an MBA from Open University of Netherlands. He started his career with KLM in 1992 as a supervisor at the Schiphol hub.
Global exposure
Elbers's international experience and leadership roles
During his time at KLM, Elbers held several managerial positions in Japan, Greece, and Italy. He returned to the Netherlands in 2005 as Senior Vice President of network & alliances at KLM. In 2011, he joined KLM's board as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and was promoted to President and CEO three years later. In June 2022, IndiGo appointed him CEO after Ronojoy Dutta's retirement.
Personal insights
Elbers's personal reflections on living in India
In 2023, Elbers spoke about his life in India, saying that the country has become his home. He said, "Being a part of IndiGo and now living now in India for two years....IndiGo and this beautiful country India have indeed become a part of me." He is married to Marjolein Elbers, and they have three children together.