Air India appoints former Ethiopian Airlines Chief Tewolde Gebremariam as new CEO, MD
New Delhi, August 5
Air India on Wednesday appointed former Ethiopian Airlines Chief Executive Officer Tewolde Gebremariam as its new Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director. He succeeds Campbell Wilson.
The appointment was announced by Air India's Board of Directors following a comprehensive global search overseen by a dedicated Board committee. The committee evaluated internal and highly accomplished external candidates from across the world, seeking a leader with a proven track record in large-scale airline turnarounds, operational excellence, safety, service and profitable expansion, a release said.
It said Gebremariam is widely recognised for his leadership of Ethiopian Airlines Group, where he served as CEO for more than a decade and spearheaded a multi-billion-dollar expansion. During his tenure, the airline's revenue grew more than fourfold and its fleet size nearly tripled, "transforming it into Africa's largest, most profitable and decorated airline group".
His expertise spans international long-haul network expansion, global hub operations, MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) infrastructure and aviation training.
Air India said his experience in safety, engineering quality, operational reliability, profitability and workforce development would be crucial as it moves beyond its foundational turnaround phase.
N Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons and Air India, said Gebremariam's record of building one of the world's efficient and profitable airline groups made him uniquely suited to lead Air India's next phase of execution and expansion.
Gebremariam said he was honoured to lead Air India at a historic moment and looked forward to building a world-class global airline reflecting India's economic potential, while delivering operational reliability, Indian hospitality and sustained long-term growth.
Under his leadership, Air India said it will focus on strengthening international connectivity, supporting India's emergence as a global aviation hub and maintaining high standards of aviation safety and compliance. The airline will also continue to emphasise employee training, career pathways and a high-performance, customer-first culture.
The Board thanked Campbell Wilson for his leadership during Air India's revitalisation phase, including overseeing complex merger and integration processes, fleet modernisation programmes and corporate governance reforms.
Air India said further details regarding Gebremariam's onboarding timeline and transition schedule will be shared in due course.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Great choice by Tata Group! Ethiopian Airlines is internationally respected. But I really hope he focuses on the passenger experience too. The last time I flew Air India, the service was a disaster honestly. We deserve a world-class airline with Indian hospitality, not just profits. Let's see what changes he brings.
Interesting move by Air India. Campbell Wilson did a solid job in the turnaround phase, so this new CEO has big shoes to fill. International expertise in aviation is always welcome, and Tewolde's record speaks for itself. Hope he can help position Air India as a global hub carrier, especially with India's growing aviation market.
Hmm, another foreign CEO for an Indian airline? I'm not entirely convinced. We have such talented aviation professionals in India too. But I understand the need for global expertise. Tewolde's success at Ethiopian Airlines is undeniable, but can he understand Indian passengers' expectations? Only time will tell. 🤔
This is a masterstroke by Tata! Ethiopian Airlines under Tewolde became a model for how a national carrier should be run - profitable, expanding, and efficient. If he can bring that same vision to Air India, we could finally see our flag carrier truly soar. Exciting times ahead! ✈️🇮🇳
I have mixed feelings about this. On one hand, his credentials are impressive. But I really hope Air India doesn't lose its Indian identity and warmth. The charm of Air India was always about its Indian hospitality. If he can combine that with operational efficiency, it would be
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