Nikhil Joshi. (Photo via Boeing India.)
New Delhi: Boeing, the US-based aerospace giant, has announced the appointment of Nikhil Joshi as the managing director of Boeing Defense India – a local entity that offers comprehensive lifecycle solutions for government and defence customers in India.
Joshi, who has over 25 years of aerospace and defence industry experience, including service with the Indian Navy, will lead current and future programmes for BDI to enhance the mission readiness and modernisation of India’s defence forces. He will report to Salil Gupte, president of Boeing India and South Asia, and work closely with Boeing Defense, Space & Security (BDS) and Boeing Global Services (BGS).
“We are delighted to welcome Nikhil to our team. His wealth of experience and strong leadership will drive our growth strategy in India and strengthen our commitment to continue serving our defence customers in the country,” said Scott Carpendale, vice-president, Asia-Pacific, Boeing Global Services - Government Services (BGS-GS).
Joshi has more than 4,000 hours of flying experience on various maritime reconnaissance aircraft and has commanded both frontline ships and air squadrons while in service with the Indian Navy. Prior to joining Boeing, he served as the country manager for Eaton Aerospace, where he was responsible for growing the business footprint for Eaton in India.
“Efficient solutions, timely support, and flawless execution are critical elements of BDI’s commitment to our customers and the Indian aerospace and defence industry. We welcome Nikhil to Boeing India and look forward to collaborating to support our customers with their future requirements,” said Gupte.
Boeing has a longstanding presence in India, spanning over eight decades. India currently operates various Boeing platforms, such as 11 C-17s, 22 AH-64 Apaches, 15 CH-47 Chinooks, 12 P-8Is, 3 VVIP aircraft (737 airframes), and two customized aircraft (777 airframes) for flying the president, vice-president, and the prime minister.
India is one of the largest defence markets for Boeing and is at the front and centre of its business plans.
