After 42 years with Changi Airport Group, Senior Vice President of Airside Concessions Chandra Mahtani will retire on 1 March. Widely respected in global airport retail, she leaves behind a legacy of innovation, resilience and partnerships that helped define Changi Airport’s internationally acclaimed commercial success.
After more than four decades at the forefront of airport retail innovation, Changi Airport Group (CAG) Senior Vice President of Airside Concessions Chandra Mahtani will retire on 1 March, closing a remarkable 42-year chapter that has helped define the modern commercial identity of Changi Airport.
Mahtani, regarded as one of the most respected figures in the global airport commercial community, leaves behind a legacy intertwined with Changi’s rise as a benchmark for experiential retail. Over the decades, the airport has evolved from a transit hub into a destination in its own right, celebrated as much for its shopping and lifestyle offerings as for its aviation connectivity. Much of that transformation was shaped by Mahtani’s steady leadership, strategic foresight and unwavering commitment to partnership.
In a note shared with partners, CAG Executive Vice President, Commercial, Lim Peck Hoon credited Mahtani with being instrumental “in shaping what Changi Airport’s retail experience is renowned for today.” She added that Mahtani “played a pivotal role in many of our most defining retail milestones,” underscoring the breadth and depth of her influence across generations of commercial initiatives.
Under Mahtani’s stewardship, Changi delivered numerous global “firsts” in airport retail. From securing pioneering retail concepts that later became industry templates to nurturing local Singaporean brands and positioning them for global recognition, her approach blended bold experimentation with careful curation. The airport’s retail mix evolved to reflect not only international luxury and premium brands but also distinctive homegrown concepts, creating a commercial ecosystem that felt authentic, innovative and commercially robust.
Industry observers have long noted that Changi’s retail success lies in its ability to balance revenue generation with experience design. Retail spaces were conceived not merely as transactional zones but as immersive environments that extended the airport journey. Mahtani’s philosophy championed long-term partnerships over short-term gains, ensuring that brands saw Changi as a strategic platform rather than simply a point of sale. This relationship-driven approach fostered enduring collaborations and enabled the airport to remain agile amid changing consumer behaviours.
Her leadership was tested most severely during the Covid-19 pandemic, when global aviation ground to a near halt. As passenger numbers plummeted and uncertainty clouded the industry, Mahtani worked closely with brand partners to navigate unprecedented disruptions. According to CAG’s statement, she stood “shoulder to shoulder with our brand partners to ensure that Changi reopened with strength and momentum.” That period required not just commercial acumen but empathy and resilience, as stakeholders across the ecosystem faced operational and financial strain.
Colleagues describe her as both exacting and generous — a leader who expected high standards but invested deeply in mentorship. Over 42 years, she guided multiple generations of commercial managers, planners and leasing specialists, many of whom have risen to senior roles within the organisation and the wider aviation retail sector. Her departure marks not just the end of a tenure but the culmination of an era in which Changi’s retail proposition matured into a global reference point.
As Mahtani steps down, continuity and evolution remain central themes for CAG’s commercial division. Ms. Hung Jean will continue in her existing role as Managing Director, overseeing Changi Airport’s overall Airside Concessions business as well as the broader commercial portfolio, including ecommerce. The integration of digital commerce into the airport retail model has become increasingly critical, with travellers expecting seamless omnichannel experiences that begin before arrival and continue after departure.
Supporting Hung Jean, General Manager Samantha Yuan will assume leadership of the Planning & Leasing team from 1 April. Yuan’s professional journey began within the Airside Concessions team, and she brings a strong track record across key roles at Changi Airport. Her appointment reflects the organisation’s emphasis on cultivating internal talent and sustaining institutional knowledge while embracing new perspectives.
Lim Peck Hoon concluded her message by reaffirming CAG’s forward-looking ambitions. “The CAG team remains committed to strengthening partnerships, driving innovation and delivering the world-class retail experience synonymous with Changi Airport,” she said. That commitment builds directly on the foundation laid by Mahtani and her contemporaries — a framework that views retail not as ancillary revenue but as a core dimension of the airport brand.
For the global aviation community, Mahtani’s retirement is likely to be felt beyond Singapore. Over the years, Changi’s commercial strategies have been studied and emulated by airports worldwide seeking to elevate their non-aeronautical revenues and passenger engagement. The model demonstrated that airports could compete with leading urban retail destinations by curating aspirational brands, integrating leisure and lifestyle elements, and constantly refreshing their offer.
Yet those who worked alongside her suggest that Mahtani’s most enduring contribution may be cultural rather than commercial. By championing collaboration, nurturing trust with partners and mentoring colleagues, she helped build an organisational ethos that prizes excellence and adaptability. That culture will continue to shape Changi’s retail ambitions long after her retirement.
As she prepares to step away from day-to-day responsibilities on 1 March, Mahtani does so with the knowledge that the retail landscape she helped craft remains one of the most admired in global aviation. Her 42-year journey mirrors Changi Airport’s own ascent from a regional gateway to a global icon of travel experience — a transformation powered not only by infrastructure and strategy, but by visionary leadership and enduring partnerships.
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