Kingfisher in talks to rope in SpiceJet ex-CEO

Vijay Mallya-owned private air-carrier, Kingfisher Airlines is in talks with a top former executive of the budget airline, SpiceJet to take him onboard and a final decision on the issue is expected shotly, sources said.

"The former Chief Executive Officer of SpiceJet, Sanjay Aggarwal, and Kingfisher Airlines' Chairman, Vijay Mallya are in touch for quite some time. A meeting between the two is slated for later this week," industry sources familiar with the development said.

If the talks fructify, Aggarwal may be appointed for a top job in Kingfisher as early as October, they said. Aggarwal, who is credited with flying SpiceJet into profit in FY10, the first time since its inception in 2005, quit the job in July after Chennai-based media baron, Kalanithi Maran bought 37.7 per cent stake with a 20 per cent open offer, following the US investor Wilbur Ross deciding to offoad his stake.

If Aggarwal comes onboard, his immediate task would be to turnaround the debt-ridden, loss-making airline, sources said. Aviation industry research and analysis provider, Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation in its mid-year review of the domestic airlines in July this year had stressed on the need of CEO and COO in the airline.

"In order to ensure that the airline (Kingfisher) pursues a disciplined turnaround, a new organisation structure needs to be established with the induction of a CEO and COO," the report had said.

As on March 31, 2010, Kingfisher Airlines' debt stood at Rs 6,000-crore (Rs 60 billion), the largest for any domestic private air carrier. Besides, the company posted a loss of Rs 1647-crore (Rs 16.5 billion) in FY10. Even in the first quarter of the current fiscal, airline posted a loss of Rs 187-crore (Rs 1.87 billion).

Image: Sanjay Aggarwal