Building a world-class airport with purpose
About us
Leading with Vision and Expertise
Guided by global experience and local insight, our leadership is building India’s next-gen airport.
Daniel Bircher
Chairman and Managing Director (CMD)
Daniel Bircher is responsible for Zurich Airport’s International Business since May 2021, which comprises the strategic development of international business and supervision of the airports and subsidiaries of Zurich Airport Ltd. abroad.
A Swiss citizen born in 1968, he has worked for Zurich Airport Ltd. since 2006. From 2011 he was Operation Director at Bangalore International Airport in India, from 2015 COO of Belo Horizonte Airport in Brazil and since 2018 he has held the post of CEO of Zurich Airport Asia in Malaysia.
Christoph Schnellmann
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Christoph leads Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL), bringing over 20 years of experience. His expertise is in airport development, concession management, aviation infrastructure, greenfield and brownfield projects spanning across Europe, Latin America, and Asia.
Christoph has been associated with Zurich Airport since 2007, when he was involved in the opening of Bangalore International Airport, India's first PPP greenfield airport, he has led Swissport International's EMEA operations. He holds a Master's degree in philosophy from the University of Zurich.
Kiran Jain
Chief Operating Officer (COO)
With over three decades of leadership in aviation and hospitality, Kiran is a business expert specializing in air service development, aero commercial strategy, airport operations, and government affairs across India and the U.S.
At Delhi International Airport and U.S.-based airports, she has driven strategic growth and route expansion, consistently delivering results. In 2024, the President of India recognized her as one of "51 Extraordinary Women" in aviation.
Kiran holds degrees in International Business and Political Science from Marymount - Fordham University, New York, underscoring her strong academic foundation and dedication to excellence.
Nitu Samra
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Nitu heads the finance function at Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL). A Chartered Accountant with over 25 years of experience, Nitu has worked across various service sectors, ranging from financial and asset management to leasing. She has been associated with organizations such as LeasePlan India, Fidelity International, and India Mortgage Guarantee Corporation.
Nitu is responsible for the company’s financial planning, reporting, funding, procurement, and compliance, while driving the airport’s long-term financial strategy. She holds a Commerce degree from Delhi University and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.
Nicolas Schenk
Chief Development Officer (CDO)
Nicolas brings over 25 years of experience in infrastructure development and leads all capex-related aspects of the airport’s growth. He also oversees ORAT (Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer), maintenance, engineering, as well as sustainability initiatives.
Previously, Nicolas led projects at Zurich Airport Group across South America and Asia, earning recognition for his work on sustainable, digital solutions during airport design as well as implementation. He holds a degree in integrated infrastructure planning along with a master’s in business administration and engineering from Zurich University of Applied Sciences.
Prashant Gaurav Gupta
Chief Commercial Officer (CCO)
Prashant brings over 24 years of experience in luxury hospitality and retail. He has held senior roles at ITC Hotels and DLF, earning national awards for innovation and excellence.
Prashant now applies his deep understanding of premium customer service to airport commercial operations, with a focus on delivering high-quality retail and F&B experiences. He is a certified tea sommelier, a connoisseur of luxury, a passionate traveller, and a reader.
