Sanjay Aggarwal, CEO, SpiceJet has resigned from his position, less than a month after Kalanidhi Maran, Founder, Sun TV acquired a 37.7 per cent stake in SpiceJet. Aggarwal took over after US investor Wilbur Ross pumped in about Rs 345 crore two years back.

Aggarwal's exit was seen as imminent when Maran and his aviation firm Kal Airways agreed to buy stakes from promoter Bhupendra Kansagra and the US investor and made an open offer for a further 20 per cent stake. The move will give the new owner a free hand to revamp the management.

Sources informed that Kishore Gupta, who has been on the airline's board for a decade, may be made the interim CEO till Maran finalises the new management team. Among the big moves expected now is a possible change in the airline's name, as well as shifting of the Low Cost Carrier's headquarters from Gurgaon to Chennai.

Aggarwal, who was SpiceJet's Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Chief Strategy Officer (CSO), was appointed the CEO in October, 2008 — three months after Ross pumped in Rs 345 crore in the desperate-for-cash-LCC. SpiceJet, which till Maran's entry has had a rather fluid ownership pattern, has witnessed top level changes in the past too. Aggarwal had taken over the position from Siddhanta Sharma who then moved over to InterGlobe that runs, among other businesses, leading LCC IndiGo.

SpiceJet has a fleet of 20 aircraft and will receive five more single aisles this year. With a market share of 12 per cent, the LCC is planning to launch international flights from this month.