Naresh Goyal

Chairman, Jet Airways

Mr. Naresh Goyal, a non-resident Indian national, is the chairman of the Company. He is also the chairman of the Board of Directors. Mr. Goyal holds a Bachelors of Commerce degree and after completing his education in 1967, Mr. Goyal joined the travel business and underwent extensive practical training with several foreign airlines.

Mr. Naresh Goyal has more than 38 years of experience in the civil aviation industry. Immediately after graduation in Commerce in 1967, Mr. Goyal joined the travel business with the General Sales Agents for Lebanese International Airlines. Subsequently, Mr. Goyal was appointed the Public Relations Manager of Iraqi Airways in 1969 and from 1971 to 1974 was the Regional Manager for ALIA, Royal Jordanian Airlines. During this period, Mr. Goyal also worked with the Indian offices of Middle Eastern Airline (MEA) where he gained experience in various areas including ticketing, reservations and sales. During this period, he underwent extensive training in all facets of the travel business and undertook considerable international travel on business. He was thereafter appointed Regional Manager of Philippine Airlines where he handled the commercial operations of the airline in India. With the wide experience, expertise and technical know-how Mr. Goyal acquired, he founded Jetair Private Limited (then known as Jetair Transportation Private Limited) in 1974 with the objective of providing sales and marketing representation to foreign airlines in India. Shortly thereafter in 1975, he was appointed Regional Manager of Philippine Airlines in India.

In Jetair, Mr. Goyal was directly involved in marketing studies and traffic development in the Far East, Middle East, and Europe, the U.K. and the U.S.A. Mr. Goyal has also been involved in developing studies of traffic patterns, route structures, operational economies and flight scheduling, all of which have made him an authority in the world of aviation and travel.

As Chairman of the GSA company, Jetair Private Limited and the other promoter group companies such as International Cargo Carriers Limited, National Travel Service and France Air Ltd. he has imparted expertise to these companies and further refined his knowledge of the operation of passenger and cargo services and promotion and development of tourism.

In 1992, as part of the ongoing diversification of his business interests, Mr. Goyal caused to be promoted our Company for operating scheduled air services in India.

Mr. Goyal in his capacity as Chairman, Jet Airways has won the 'Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Services' from Ernst & Young and also 'Distinguished Alumni Award-2000' for meritorious and distinguished performance as an Entrepreneur and also the 'Most Respected Company in Travel and Hospitality Sector'.

Other awards conferred on Mr. Goyal include the 'Outstanding Asian-Indian' award for leadership and contribution to the global community given by the Indian American Centre for Political Awareness, 'Aerospace Laurels' for outstanding contribution in the field of Commercial Air Transport twice, in April 2000 and February 2004. The airline has also been given the 'Pride in Excellence' award from Boeing Company for maintaining the highest Technical Despatch Reliability for the second year in succession in April 2004. In August 2003, the airline was awarded the 'Superbrand' status by the world's leading authority on branding, the Superbrands Council.

In July 2005, Business Week selected Chairman, Naresh Goyal as one of the five leaders from India in their Asia Edition cover story "Stars of Asia - 25 Leaders at The Forefront of Change."

Chairman, Naresh Goyal received the first BML Munjal Award for Excellence in Learning & Development in the Private Sector category from the Honourable Minister for Civil Aviation, Shri Praful Patel along with a citation at a special function at Hotel Maurya Sheraton, New Delhi on January 6, 2006.

The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh presented the first NDTV Profit Business Award 2006 to Jet Airways, which was received by the Chairman, Naresh Goyal at a glittering function at Taj Palace Hotel on July 28, 2006. The award, in the aviation category, is to salute the men and women who fuel India's journey to the forefront of the World Economy.
 
Chairman, Naresh Goyal was accorded the prestigious TATA AIG – Lifetime Achievement Award at the Abacus-TAFI Awards ceremony organized during the TAFI (Travel Agents' Federation of India) International Travel Convention 2007, on Saturday 8th September, 2007 at the Sutera Harbour Resort in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.

Chairman, Naresh Goyal, was conferred with “Travel Entrepreneur of the Year” award at the 19th annual TTG(Travel Trade Gazette)  Travel Awards. The awards were presented at a glittering ceremony and gala dinner on Thursday 25th October, 2007 at the Sofitel Centara Grand, Bangkok.

Chairman, Naresh Goyal was awarded the prestigious "Man of the Year Award" by the Aviation Press Club (APC) at its 30th Anniversary on Wednesday, April 09, 2008, in Belgium. The Aviation Press Club is an influential club of Belgian Aviation Journalists. Mr. Goyal has been re-elected to IATA Board of Governors for the year 2008-09. He has earlier served on the Board of Governors of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), from 2004-2006.