IndiGo appoints Wolfgang Prock-Schauer as new COO

New Delhi: InterGlobe Aviation Ltd-run IndiGo has appointed Wolfgang Prock-Schauer as the chief operating officer as it starts planning its long-haul international operations.

“As we prepare for our future, this hunt for talent, internally and externally, will be an ongoing exercise. I am now pleased and excited to announce one more valuable addition to the leadership team. Our board of directors has approved the proposal to appoint Mr. Wolfgang Prock-Schauer as the chief operating officer (COO) of the company, subject to regulatory approvals. Wolfgang will be reporting to me,” Aditya Ghosh, president of IndiGo said in an email to employees on Tuesday which has been reviewed by Mint. 

Prock-Schauer, who holds a masters degree in Economics and Business Administration from the University of Vienna, has over 36 years of experience in the aviation industry. He has worked in senior leadership positions with some of the major airlines across Europe and Asia, including Austrian Airlines, Jet Airways (India), British Midland International, Air Berlin (Germany/UK) and Go Air (India).

Prock-Schauer will be responsible for operational aspects of IndiGo such as flight operations, maintenance and engineering and inflight services directly as well as airport operations and operations control centre.

IndiGo confirmed the appointment in a statement issued Tuesday evening.

"I look forward to working with the team in areas that can strengthen IndiGo’s operations. I look forward to meeting the organisation's objectives, strengthen this great brand and grow the business in the Indian market," Prock-Schauer said in the statement.

IndiGo, which currently flies to West Asia and South-east Asia, had last week said it will seek rights from the government to fly long-haul international flights, even as it expressed interest in acquiring the international operations of Air India, the state-run airline that is in the process of being privatized.

A former airline official who has worked with Prock-Schauer said he will add value to IndiGo.

"The company is getting bigger and needs more depth in its management. Its always better to get someone who  understands India particularly as he will be interacting with the outside world. Wolfgang helped Jet Airways at a critical time when it was going international and he has worked with Air Berlin, Austrian, etc. He has best of both the worlds,” said this person asking not to be named. “Besides he is an affable person, he doesn’t have any chip on his shoulder.”

The Rahul Bhatia and Rakesh Gangwal-promoted IndiGo controls 39.6% share of the domestic market, with 153 planes and over 1,000 daily flights to 49 cities.