New Delhi: WHSmith India, the Indian arm of the iconic British travel retail company, has appointed Shantanu Chakravartty as its Chief Executive Officer and Director. A seasoned leader in travel retail, Chakravartty steps into this role with a bold mandate: to triple WHSmith India’s revenue and scale its retail footprint fivefold in the next four years.
Shantanu has played an instrumental role in WHSmith India’s journey over the past seven years, guiding the company through what he calls its “most defining years.” His leadership was particularly impactful during the COVID-19 crisis, when airport retail came to a near-complete halt. During this period, he helped safeguard over 20,000 jobs and maintain business continuity across India’s major airports.
Reflecting on that time, Chakravartty 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”,
Under his leadership, WHSmith India achieved ₹200 crore in revenue last year and introduced digital, data-driven operations to enhance the customer experience. Chakravartty now targets a top-line growth to ₹500 crore in the next three years.
“WHSmith stores are no longer just transit points,” he noted. “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.”
With over 15 years of experience in travel retail, Chakravartty is known for his operational expertise and deep understanding of passenger behaviour, supply chains, and merchandising logic—skills that have helped WHSmith India emerge as a benchmark in airport retail.
He is also a strong advocate for employee development and industry collaboration. Known for his hands-on approach, he frequently visits stores, mentors teams, and welcomes feedback that feeds into strategic improvements. In addition to his role at WHSmith, he continues to serve pro bono as the General Secretary of the Airport Services Association of India, promoting collaborative growth and infrastructure enhancements across the aviation sector.
“We are entering a phase of rapid expansion in India’s aviation sector,” Chakravartty said. “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.”
