SpiceJet's Chief Commercial Officer resigns

He is the first senior executive to leave the airline under the new promoter Ajay Singh

SpiceJet's Chief Commercial Officer Kaneswaran Avili has stepped down from the post, making him the first senior executive to leave the airline under the new promoter Ajay Singh.

Avili's resignation is effective from today, SpiceJet said in a release.

He is leaving the company to pursue certain entrepreneurial opportunities, it said.

Avili had joined SpiceJet last April.

The verticals that were under Avili will now report directly to Chief Operating Officer Sanjiv Kapoor while cargo will report to the Chief Administrative Officer G P Gupta, the release said.

"Kanesh helped create the SpiceJet Effect, which through demand stimulation and the refusal to accept half-empty aircraft flying around especially in low season, had galvanized the entire Indian aviation market into high growth mode while at the same time helping improve revenue performance," Kapoor said in the release.

He also helped drive certain cost efficiencies in terms of staffing productivity, which also contributed positively to the bottom line, he said.

"I wish to thank the board and management of SpiceJet for being open to new ideas during my tenure. I am glad that my contraposition in SpiceJet helped the airline improve revenue performance and reduce costs. Sanjiv and I worked closely together to drive demand stimulation and create the SpiceJet Effect that has driven record growth in the industry," Avili said.