WHSmith India has appointed Shantanu Chakravartty as Chief Executive Officer and Director. Chakravartty has led the company over the past seven years and will now be responsible for delivering its next phase of growth.
Under his new mandate, Chakravartty is aiming to triple WHSmith India's revenue and increase the company’s store footprint by five times. WHSmith India currently operates 40 stores across airports, metro stations and university campuses.
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Chakravartty played a key role in maintaining operations in the travel and airport retail sector.
“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,” he said.
“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,” Chakravartty added.
In the last financial year, WHSmith India reported revenues of ₹200 crore. The company also expanded its presence at major airports and adopted digital and data-driven operations. Chakravartty now aims to grow annual revenues to ₹500 crore over the next three years.
“WHSmith stores are no longer just transit points,” said Chakravartty. “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.”
Chakravartty has over 15 years’ experience in travel retail. His background includes work in supply chain, passenger behaviour analysis and merchandising at transit locations. He is also the General Secretary of the Airport Services Association of India, a role he holds in a voluntary capacity.
“We are entering a phase of rapid expansion in India’s aviation sector,” Chakravartty noted. “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.”
