Sunny Guglani Airbus: European aircraft manufacturer Airbus has appointed Sunny Guglani as the new Head of Airbus Helicopters for India and South Asia. Guglani succeeds Ashish Saraf who joined French defence and high-technology giant Thales to head its India operations in June this year.
Guglani has been with Airubs for more than seven years. He worked in the Airbus CEO’s office and led the A380 marketing team based in Toulouse, France.
He previously headed corporate communications for India and South Asia region before moving to Europe. Guglani assumed charge on Monday and will be based in New Delhi.
“Having worked with Airbus both in India and at our headquarters in the past, Sunny brings with him a diverse set of skills and expertise that will play a key role in building new platforms of growth for Airbus Helicopters in the region,” said Rémi Maillard, President and Managing Director of Airbus India and South Asia.
Rémi Maillard, Head of Airbus India & South Asia.
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In the new role, Guglani will be responsible for growing Airbus’ civil, parapublic and defence helicopter business in the region, including aftermarket services.
Sunny Guglani’s new responsibility as Head of Helicopter Business in India comes at a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government is trying to build a domestic defence and aerospace industry under its flagship schemes ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat’ ( a self-reliant India in defence) schemes.
In order to encourage defence manufacturing in India by foreign original equipment manufacturers, the government opened the defence sector for 74% foreign direct investment (FDI) under automatic route in September last year.
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Maillard said Airbus Helicopters was uniquely positioned to bring the ‘Make in India’ programme to life in the field of defence helicopters.
“On the civil and para-public side, India offers a huge potential in areas such as Emergency Medical Services, Urban Air Mobility, Airborne Law Enforcement. Sunny will lead the efforts, working together with our local stakeholders and partners,” Rémi Maillard noted.
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Sunny Guglani holds a degree in Electronics and Communications Engineering from Panjab University, India and a Master’s Degree in General Management and Finance from LUISS Guido Carli, Italy.
