Noida International Airport Appoints Nitu Sarma As Interim CEO

27 Apr 2026 CW Team

Noida International Airport has appointed its Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Nitu Sarma as interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO) with immediate effect. The move follows directions from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security that the chief executive of an airport in India must be an Indian national and prompted a change in leadership after the airport's recent inauguration. Christoph Schnellmann, a Swiss national who served as CEO since August 2020, will transition to the airport's Board of Directors (Board) as Executive Vice Chairman.

The Board said the interim appointment of Sarma, who has held the CFO role since October 2021, will remain in place until the Board can conclude a formal selection process for a permanent chief executive. The change was presented as an administrative compliance measure with national security regulations and part of governance formalities following the airport's opening. The Board will oversee the recruitment and selection to ensure the CEO meets statutory requirements.

Sarma's elevation from finance chief to interim chief executive positions an internal candidate with institutional knowledge to manage initial operations during the transition. Her responsibilities will include coordinating with regulatory authorities, operational teams and stakeholders to sustain airport services and implement strategic priorities established at inauguration. The Board will also benefit from Schnellmann's experience as he assumes an executive leadership role focused on broader governance and advisory duties.

The airport's management said the adjustments aim to balance regulatory compliance with continuity of operations as commercial schedules and infrastructure roll out in the early phase. Stakeholders were expected to receive further updates as the Board progresses with the formal selection process. The appointment underscores the emphasis on meeting statutory criteria while preserving operational momentum at the newly inaugurated facility.

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