SGK Kishore, a senior executive at GMR Group, has been named the new President of Airport Council International (ACI) for the Asia Pacific and Middle East regions, starting January 1. Kishore, who currently serves as Executive Director and Chief Innovation Officer at GMR Airports, will take over from Emmanuel Menanteau, Board Director of Cambodia Airports and Regional Director for VINCI Airports, according to a statement from GMR Group.

In his role leading the Hong Kong-based ACI-APAC & MID, Kishore will focus on advancing regional standards, strengthening partnerships, and addressing challenges unique to the region's growing aviation market. This appointment underscores India’s increasing influence in ACI APAC & MID, fostering global collaboration in innovation, sustainability, and economic growth among member airports.

Representing over 600 airports across 47 countries, ACI APAC & MID anticipates rapid growth in air travel, projecting passenger traffic to increase from 3.4 billion to 9.7 billion by 2042, almost half of global traffic.

Kishore's appointment marks a significant milestone for Indian aviation, positioning India as a major player in the global aviation landscape, GMR Group noted. (ET)