APPOINTMENT
WHSmith has announced the appointment of Shantanu Chakravartty as its Chief Executive Officer & Director. His leadership over the last seven years has guided the company through its most crucial phase.
An experienced travel retail leader with a proven track record of handling operations, Shantanu has taken on the role with a clear mandate: to triple the company’s profits over the next four years and scale WHSmith India into a benchmark for modern travel retail.
During the COVID-19 crisis, Shantanu played an important role in steering WHSmith through unprecedented turbulence in the travel and airport retail sectors. During lockdown, when the aviation industry and airports were brought to a standstill for the first time in 100 years, his strategic leadership and people first approach protected over 20,000 jobs and ensured business continuity across India’s busiest airports
Reflecting on that period, Shantanu said, “I’ve always believed that disruption is an invitation to rebuild stronger, that’s why we created the Airport Services Association of India, which helped the industry survive in 2020 and 2021.
“With WHSmith, my vision is to grow our store footprint by 5x and create an ecosystem where both business and people thrive. We are currently operating 40 stores in India at various metro stations, airports and university campuses. What motivates me most is knowing that every store we open means more livelihoods, more opportunities. Retail is not just a business. It’s a platform for people to grow their careers and transform their lives,” he added.
“WHSmith stores are no longer just transit points,” said Shantanu. “Our focus is on convenience, consistency, and customer delight. From book lovers to business flyers, from families to solo explorers, we are constantly reinventing our offerings to match their expectations and capture their attention in a short dwell time.”
“We are entering a phase of rapid expansion in India’s aviation sector,” Shantanu noted. “With millions more passengers expected in the coming years, the opportunity for airport retail is immense. At WHSmith India, we are ready to lead this evolution—with scalable infrastructure, people-first culture, and tech-led operations that deliver seamless experiences.”, he said.
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