Air India appoints Tewolde Gebremariam as new CEO to replace Campbell Wilson
New Delhi, Aug 5
Air India on Wednesday appointed former Ethiopian Airlines chief Tewolde Gebremariam as its new CEO and Managing Director to replace Campbell Wilson.
The change comes amid the Tata Group airline piling up massive losses and facing an investigation into its Boeing Dreamliner crash at the Ahmedabad airport last year, in which 260 people lost their lives.
Wilson, a former Singapore Airlines executive, became the CEO and Managing Director of Air India in 2022 after the Tata Group took over the loss-making Government-owned airline. Air India had announced earlier that he was keen to quit the top post and a hunt was on to find a new CEO to replace him.
During his decade-plus tenure as CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Group, Gebremariam spearheaded a multi-billion-dollar expansion, transforming a regional carrier into Africa's largest, most profitable airline group, growing revenue by more than fourfold and fleet size nearly threefold. His 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, the Air India statement said.
Air India piled up a loss of $2.8 billion for the financial year 2025-26, according to the annual report of Singapore Airlines released recently.
Loss-making Air India has been forced to cancel several international flights in recent months due to the closure of Pakistan's airspace and the Middle East conflict, which has adversely impacted its revival plans.
"Following an intensive evaluation process, the Air India Board unanimously concluded that Gebremariam possesses the ideal combination of leadership, deep operational expertise, and strategic execution capability required for Air India's next phase of growth," Air India said in a statement.
Under Gebremariam's leadership, the airline will work closely with civil aviation authorities and regulators to strengthen India's position as a premier global aviation hub, enhance international connectivity, and maintain the highest benchmarks of aviation safety and compliance, the airline said.
As Air India shifts from its foundational turnaround phase into a high-growth & profitable execution phase, Gebremariam brings crucial capabilities required for Air India's next leg of journey. 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, with a deep experience in workforce upskilling, talent development, and embedding a high-performance, customer-first service culture, the Air India statement said.
Tata Sons and Air India Chairman N. Chandrasekaran said: "Having completed the initial phase of stabilisation, 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."
This leadership transition reinforces Air India's alignment with national priorities and stakeholder expectations.
The Board also thanked Wilson for his leadership over the past phase of Air India's revitalisation. He successfully oversaw complex merger and integration processes, initiated massive fleet modernisation programmes, established new corporate governance standards, and laid the foundations that were necessary for the future.
Air India now enters its next era with clear strategic clarity, robust capital backing, and world-class leadership at the helm. Further details regarding the exact onboarding timeline and transition schedule will be shared in due course, the statement added.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Interesting choice! The man built Ethiopian Airlines into a global powerhouse. But let's be real - Air India's problems run deep. Fleet modernization, route profitability, and that safety record need serious work. I just hope this isn't another revolving door appointment. We need stability at the top.
Flying Air India from Delhi to New York last month and honestly, service was fantastic! Customer first approach is clearly working. If this new CEO can expand our international network while maintaining that quality, we're onto something special. 🇮🇳✈️
Campbell Wilson did a decent job with the merger and modernization groundwork. But bringing in someone with African airline experience is interesting - the dynamics are quite different. Still, with international routes being cancelled due to Pakistan airspace closure and Middle East issues, this new CEO has his work cut out. At least we're thinking globally now.
Wait, $2.8 billion loss in FY 2025-26? That's alarming! But honestly, Air India was a sinking ship for decades before Tata took over. Rome wasn't built in a day yaar. Gebremariam has the credentials to turn things around. Just hope the government actually lets him work without unnecessary interference. 🤞
The real elephant in the room is that Ahmedabad Dreamliner crash - 260 people! We're talking about safety protocols here, not just profits. Hope Mr. Gebremariam's emphasis on safety standards isn't just another press statement. Need concrete action on aviation safety in this country.
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