Air India Names Tewolde Gebremariam as New CEO
Former Ethiopian Airlines chief takes over from Campbell Wilson after reportedly being shortlisted to lead Pakistan International Airlines.
- Tewolde Gebremariam appointed Air India CEO and Managing Director.
- He will succeed Campbell Wilson, who is due to step down in September.
- Gebremariam was reportedly earlier shortlisted to become CEO of Pakistan International Airlines.
- The veteran aviation executive led Ethiopian Airlines from 2011 to 2022.
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 7th Aug: Air India has appointed former Ethiopian Airlines chief Tewolde Gebremariam as its new Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, bringing one of the global aviation industry’s most experienced executives on board as the Tata Group-owned carrier pushes ahead with its expansion and transformation plans.
Gebremariam will succeed Campbell Wilson, who announced his resignation in April and is scheduled to step down in September.
The appointment comes with an unusual cross-border twist. Gebremariam had until recently reportedly been shortlisted to head Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).
Bloomberg had reported that PIA was awaiting completion of required formalities before announcing him as its chief executive. Arab News subsequently reported, citing officials familiar with the matter, that Gebremariam had been selected for the position but that the announcement was awaiting mandatory security clearances.
The reported move came after Pakistan completed the first phase of PIA’s privatisation, with management control shifting to a consortium led by the Arif Habib Group.
However, Gebremariam will now take charge of Air India following a global search by the airline’s board involving internal and external candidates.
Air India Chairman N Chandrasekaran said the airline had completed an initial phase focused on stabilisation and fleet commitments under Wilson and was now entering a new phase centred on execution and expansion.
Veteran of Ethiopian Airlines
Gebremariam spent more than 36 years with Ethiopian Airlines Group and served as Group CEO from 2011 until 2022.
During his tenure, Ethiopian Airlines expanded significantly, with revenue increasing more than fourfold and its fleet nearly tripling. The carrier also joined Star Alliance and expanded its maintenance, repair, training and aviation.
