Shantanu Chakravartty is the new CEO & Director of WHSmith India

WHSmith India, the Indian arm of the iconic British travel retail brand, has appointed Shantanu Chakravartty as its Chief Executive Officer and Director. His elevation to the top post comes after seven transformative years of leadership, during which he played a defining role in the company’s growth and resilience.

A seasoned professional with over 15 years in travel retail, Shantanu brings a deep understanding of passenger behaviour, supply chain dynamics, and merchandising strategy. He is credited with helping shape WHSmith India into a leading player in airport and transit retail, with 40 stores currently operating across metro stations, university campuses, and India’s busiest airports.

At the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, Shantanu demonstrated crisis leadership by ensuring business continuity across airports and safeguarding over 20,000 jobs. He was also instrumental in founding the Airport Services Association of India, helping the industry navigate its most challenging period.

Under his leadership, the company aims to triple its revenue in the next four years and expand its retail footprint fivefold. Commenting on his new role, Shantanu said, “With WHSmith, my vision is to grow our store footprint by 5x and create an ecosystem where both business and people thrive.”

As General Secretary of the Airport Services Association of India, he continues to work pro bono, promoting collaboration, infrastructure upgrades, and policy support for the broader airport ecosystem.