Air India Names Former Ethiopian Airlines Chief Tewolde Gebremariam as CEO and MD

Air India has announced the appointment of former Ethiopian Airlines group chief executive Tewolde Gebremariam as its next Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, succeeding Campbell Wilson. The leadership transition comes as the Tata Group continues its multi-year turnaround and expansion strategy for the flag carrier.

What Happened

Air India confirmed on Wednesday that Tewolde Gebremariam will take the helm as CEO and MD, subject to required regulatory approvals. He is scheduled to succeed current chief Campbell Wilson, with expectations to assume his new duties next month.

Gebremariam brings more than 36 years of experience from Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s largest carrier, where he served in numerous capacities, including as regional director for India and South Asia during 1995-96. After stepping down from Ethiopian Airlines in March 2022, he worked as a senior strategic adviser to US-based carrier Delta. Notably, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA)—which was privatised last December—had also selected Gebremariam to lead its own revival efforts before the Tata Group secured his appointment for Air India.

Key Highlights

• Extensive Aviation Background: Gebremariam spent over 36 years at Ethiopian Airlines, guiding its rise as Africa’s largest carrier, and later advised Delta.
• Regional Experience: His past assignments include serving as regional director for India and South Asia in 1995-96.
• Leadership Transition: He takes over from Campbell Wilson, who oversaw the initial phase of airline integration, stabilisation, and fleet commitments following Tata Group’s acquisition of Air India in January 2022.
• Competing Offers: Pakistan International Airlines had also selected Gebremariam to head its operations after its recent privatisation.
• Turnaround Environment: The leadership handover occurs as Air India navigates legacy issues, post-Covid supply chain bottlenecks, airspace constraints, the aftermath of the AI 171 crash last June, and an annual loss of nearly Rs 23,000 crore recorded in the previous fiscal year.

Why This Matters

The appointment marks the beginning of a critical execution and expansion phase for Air India. Tata Sons and Air India Chairman N Chandrasekaran noted that following the initial stabilisation and fleet commitments guided by Wilson, Gebremariam’s track record in building an efficient and profitable global airline group makes him uniquely suited for the carrier’s future growth.

Air India’s board highlighted the need for executive leadership capable of managing mega-scale turnarounds, improving operational performance, strengthening safety and service culture, and driving profitable growth amid challenging global aviation conditions.

What to Watch Next

Gebremariam’s formal onboarding is expected next month, following the completion of necessary government and security approvals. Once in office, he will work alongside Chairman Chandrasekaran, the board, and airline staff to focus on operational reliability, customer hospitality, and long-term expansion.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Tewolde Gebremariam?

Tewolde Gebremariam is the former group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, where he worked for more than 36 years. He previously served as the airline’s regional director for India and South Asia and later acted as a senior strategic adviser to Delta.

Whom is Gebremariam replacing at Air India?

He is succeeding Campbell Wilson as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Air India.

When is the new CEO expected to take charge?

Subject to receiving all necessary regulatory approvals, Gebremariam is expected to assume the position next month.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com