The story of GMR Airports, one of the world’s largest private airport operators and India’s largest airport operator by passenger numbers, will be a major highlight of Aviation India 2026 with the organiser proud to welcome Mr SGK Kishore, who serves as Executive Director (Airports) and Chief Innovation Officer at GMR Group, overseeing key airport assets and leading the Group’s innovation initiatives through Innovex. 

Kishore is a distinguished aviation leader, technologist, and former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer with over 40 years of experience spanning public administration, urban infrastructure, digital innovation, and airport management.

Effective January 2025, he was elected President of Airports Council International (ACI) Asia Pacific & Middle East, representing 132 member organizations operating 617 airports across 46 countries and territories.

A Gold Medallist in Computer Science from IIT Bombay and a rank holder in Electronics & Communication Engineering from Andhra University, he began his career as an engineer and scientist at DRDO before joining the IAS in 1989. During his government service, he held several senior leadership positions including District Collector of Palakkad, Vice Chairman of Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority (VUDA), and South India Head of the Food Corporation of India.

After joining GMR Group in 2006, he led major urban infrastructure and airport development initiatives and subsequently served as CEO of GMR Hyderabad International Airport from 2013 to 2020.

Under his leadership, Hyderabad Airport was ranked World No 1 in ACI Airport Service Quality (ASQ) in 2016 and 2017, became one of the top performing airports globally for customer experience, pioneered end-to-end digital passenger processing, and achieved Carbon Neutral status, a first in its category in Asia Pacific.

This blend of public sector leadership, technological expertise, and aviation management has made SGK Kishore one of India’s most respected airport industry leaders and a prominent voice in shaping the future of aviation across Asia Pacific and the Middle East.