Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ), India’s biggest private port operator, will have Karan Adani as chief executive officer (CEO) effective from 1 January. Adani, son of Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani, will succeed Sudipta Bhattacharya, who is taking up the role of CEO for North America.

Adani, 27, is executive director of the company and looks after the strategic development of all Adani ports in India. The board has accepted Bhattacharya’s resignation as CEO and whole-time director with effect from 31 December.

Bhattacharya, who joined the Adani Group four years ago, is moving to the US to take up the role of CEO for North America, APSEZ said. Bhattacharya will be responsible for driving emerging opportunities for the company between India and the US. The younger Adani holds a degree in economics from Purdue University, US. He started his stint at the company learning port operations at Mundra.