Delta CIO Rahul Samant to retire after leading technology transformation

Delta CEO Ed Bastian sent the following memo to employees, announcing the retirement of Rahul Samant, E.V.P. and Chief Information Officer, after 10 years of service. He also announced Amala Duggirala will join the airline as its new Chief Digital & Technology Officer.

Rahul Samant retirement

After a decade leading our technology transformation as E.V.P. and Chief Information Officer, Rahul Samant informed me a few months ago of his plans to retire from Delta, effective March 1.

During his years of service, Rahul focused on delivering secure and reliable IT services across the company, fostering a culture of innovation, and developing the next generation of technology leaders. He has overseen significant improvements in the reliability and resiliency of Delta’s vast technology environment, while delivering new data and analytics capabilities in our customer and front-line employee facing technology.

Rahul’s accomplishments include migrating Delta’s systems and data to the cloud, developing a new Data Center, and establishing a world-class information security team. Rahul also oversaw the launch of Delta’s AI journey, with the beta rollout of Delta Concierge and optimizing AI to support our operation, among other initiatives.

 Most importantly, Rahul always strived to elevate and foster Delta’s unique people-focused culture. Thanks to his service, Delta today is a global leader in technology and innovation and is well-positioned for the years ahead.

With Rahul’s departure, Amala Duggirala will be joining Delta as our Chief Digital & Technology Officer, taking responsibility for a combined technology and digital function.

 Amala, who most recently served as E.V.P. and Chief Information Officer at USAA, has led digital transformations for major brands including Regions Bank and ACI Worldwide. She is known for her strategic, long-term thinking as well as the depth of her technical expertise.

 Amala shares Delta’s core values of always putting people first, understanding that the true value of innovation comes from empowering our people.

 Like most of us, Amala is an enthusiastic traveler who loves trekking historic sites. She will be relocating to Atlanta with her husband and mother. Her first day will be Jan. 12.

 Amala will report directly to me and will be a member of the Delta Leadership Committee. Eric Phillips, S.V.P. and Chief Digital Officer, will report to Amala as she oversees our technology and digital efforts. Unifying our commercial digital products with our enterprise technology foundation will help us accelerate our journey as a technology-driven consumer brand.

 Please join me in thanking Rahul for his decade of service to Delta, and in welcoming Amala to the team. As we begin our next century of flight together, I’m confident that our best years lie ahead, thanks to our deep bench of leadership talent and – most important of all – the skill and dedication of our 100,000 people worldwide.

Ed