Jet Airways appoints Sivakumar as chief commercial officer

Private airline Jet Airways today appointed its senior vice president Raj Sivakumar as chief commercial officer with immediate effect, besides appointing Rajeev Nambiar as vice president for sales (domestic market).
In addition, Jet Airways has also approved the appointment of Martin Drew as vice president for cargo, a statement said.
Shivkumar will be reporting to the chief operating officer and will be responsible for the overall development and implementation of a robust sales strategy for driving the goals of enhancing the company's market share and maximising revenues, the statement said.
Similarly, Nambiar will be responsible for developing and directing the implementation of the strategic, business and operational goals of the sales function.

He will have management responsibility for the achievement of customer acquisition and revenue goals (passenger sales) for India points of sale/territories, Jet Airways said.
Drew's appointment, however, is subject to receipt of all requisite government/regulatory approvals, including security clearance, the airline said.

Drew, who has over 20 years of experience in the air cargo industry with leading airlines like Lufthansa Cargo, ANA Aviation Services, DAS Air Cargo among others, will be responsible for maximisation of cargo revenues, the statement said.
The Naresh Goyal-promoted airline, in which gulf carrier Etihad is a strategic investor, has seen an exodus of top and middle-level executives since the time it entered into talks with the gulf carrier, which resulted in Rs 2,058 crore equity infusion by the Etihad for a 24 per cent stake.

Immediately after it announced the signing of the deal with Etihad last April, the then CEO Nikos Kardassis quit, reportedly in protest against being sidelined during the protracted negotiations.
The Mumbai-based airline brought in Garry Toomey, an Australian considered close to Etihad CEO and President James Hogan, in June. He quit after a little over six months.
In early May, its chief financial officer Ravishankar Gopalakrishnan parted ways with Goyal within less than four months of the airline entrusting him with the additional charge of the chief executive officer.