Air India Appoints Tewolde Gebremariam as CEO and Managing Director

India – The Board of Air India, chaired by N. Chandrasekaran (Tata Sons and Air India Chairman), has announced the appointment of Tewolde Gebremariam as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, succeeding Campbell Wilson. Gebremariam previously served as CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Group for over a decade, during which he transformed the carrier into Africa's largest and most profitable airline group.

• The Air India Board conducted a comprehensive search overseen by a dedicated Board committee, evaluating both internal candidates and external candidates from across the world.
• Tewolde Gebremariam previously served as CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Group for over a decade, during which he oversaw a multi-billion-dollar expansion that transformed a regional carrier into Africa's largest, most profitable airline group, growing revenue more than fourfold and fleet size nearly threefold.
• Gebremariam brings experience in expanding international long-haul networks, building world-class hub operations, delivering safety and engineering quality, workforce upskilling, and profitable execution across complex global markets.
• Ethiopian Airlines Group under Gebremariam's leadership developed globally recognised MRO and aviation training infrastructure, including the Ethiopian Aviation Academy.
• The transition marks a shift for Air India from its foundational turnaround phase (under Campbell Wilson) into a high-growth and profitable execution phase.
• The Board also thanked Campbell Wilson for his leadership, noting his success overseeing complex merger and integration processes, initiating massive fleet modernization programmes, and establishing new corporate governance standards.
• Air India will focus under Gebremariam on operational reliability, on-time performance, modern aircraft cabins, elevated hospitality, and seamless global connectivity.
• Further details regarding onboarding timeline and transition schedule will be shared in due course.
• Air India operates a fleet of 191 aircraft comprised of four Airbus A319s, 94 A320neos, four A320ceos, 13 A321ceos, 10 A321neos, six A350-900s, 26 Boeing 787-8s, nine 787-9s and 19 777-300ERs.

Statements

• "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," said N. Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons and Air India.
• "It is a profound honour to be entrusted with leading Air India at such a historic moment in its journey. 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," said Tewolde Gebremariam, Incoming CEO and Managing Director of Air India.

Source: Air India