E-Paper
Air India appoints Tewolde Gebremariam as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director
The appointment was approved by the airline's Board of Directors, with Gebremariam set to succeed Campbell Wilson.
Air India on Wednesday announced the appointment of Tewolde Gebremariam as its new chief executive officer (CEO) and managing director (MD), succeeding Campbell Wilson.
“Tewolde Gebremariam is widely recognised as one of the most successful aviation chief executives. During his decade-plus tenure as CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Group, he spearheaded a multi-billion-dollar expansion, transforming a regional carrier into Africa’s largest, most profitable, and decorated airline group — growing revenue by more than fourfold and fleet size nearly threefold,” the airline said in a statement.
“His unique strength lies in managing complex operational landscapes, driving cultural transformation, building competitive global hubs, and developing world-class MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) and aviation training infrastructure,” it added.
Committee conducted comprehensive search
A dedicated committee conducted a comprehensive search to identify the next leader for Air India, with the objective of finding a leader with a proven record of managing mega-scale airline turnarounds, delivering operational excellence, fostering a strong culture of safety and service, and driving profitable expansion.
“As Air India shifts from its foundational turnaround phase into a high growth & profitable execution phase, Mr. Gebremariam brings crucial capabilities required for Air India’s next leg of journey,” the statement further said.
Also read | 'Saw my sister thrown up in air, blood on man's face': Air India Phuket-Delhi passengers recall horror
“He has strong experience in expanding international long-haul networks and building world-class hub operations, an unrelenting commitment to safety standards, engineering quality, and operational reliability. He also has a track record of driving sustained profitability while navigating complex economic cycles and dynamic global markets, together with deep experience in workforce upskilling, talent development, and embedding a high-performance, customer-first service culture,” it added.
“Critical execution and expansion era”
Chairman of Tata Sons and Air India N. Chandrasekaran said, “On behalf of the Board, I am delighted to welcome Tewolde to Air India. Having completed the initial phase of stabilization, integration, and fleet commitments under Campbell’s guidance, Air India is now entering a critical execution and expansion era. Tewolde’s track record in building one of the world’s most efficient and profitable airline groups makes him uniquely suited to lead Air India. His operational expertise, commitment to safety, and vision for hub development will be instrumental as we establish Air India as a premier global carrier and a source of national pride.”
Gebremariam said, “Air India carries an incredible legacy, and the opportunity to build a world-class global airline that reflects India’s extraordinary economic potential is uniquely exciting. I look forward to working closely with chairman Chandrasekaran, the Board, our employees, and all government and industry partners to deliver exceptional operational reliability, warm Indian hospitality, and sustained long-term growth.”
“Further details regarding the exact onboarding timeline and transition schedule will be shared in due course,” the airline said.
