New Southwest Airlines director Rakesh Gangwal will serve as independent chair of the company’s board of directors, replacing Gary Kelly who has stepped down from his executive chairman post.

Indian businessman Rakesh Gangwal, co-founder of low-cost carrier IndiGo, has been appointed independent Chair of the Southwest Airlines board of directors, replacing Executive Chairman Gary Kelly. Kelly served in this role since 2008,

Southwest Airlines on Monday named aviation industry veteran Rakesh Gangwal as the independent chair to its board, days after the budget carrier settled its feud with activist investor Elliott. The airline brought in the co-founder of India's largest carrier Indigo to its board in July despite criticism from Elliott Investment Management at the time.

Billionaire and IndiGo co-founder Rakesh Gangwal has been appointed as the Chairman of American carrier Southwest Airlines. Gangwal, who joined the board of Southwest in July this year, had also acquired shares worth USD 108 million of the airline recently.

Gangwal has served on Southwest’s board since July and his appointment as the board’s chair comes after Kelly and six other directors retired Nov. 1. Co-founder and CEO Herb Kelleher held the position from 1978 to 2008, followed by Kelly, according to our partners at the Dallas Business Journal.

Southwest Airlines on 4 November disclosed the appointment of Rakesh Gangwal as independent chair of the company's board of directors, filling the role left vacant by former executive chairman Gary Kelly.