Tewolde Gebremariam named Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Air India
Airline major Air India has appointed former Ethiopian Airlines Group Chief Executive Officer Tewolde Gebremariam as its Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, succeeding Campbell Wilson.Just weeks ago, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) had named Gebremariam as its incoming Chief Executive Officer.However, on Wednesday, the appointment was approved by Air India’s Board of Directors following what the airline described as a comprehensive global search overseen by a dedicated board committee, which evaluated both internal and external candidates.Transition timelineThe details relating to Gebremariam’s onboarding and transition timeline will be announced separately.Speaking to businessline, sources said regulatory and security clearances are generally obtained before the formal assumption of charge by the Chief Executive Officer of a scheduled airline, who also serves as the airline’s accountable manager.Besides, in the next phase of the transition, security clearance will be sought for Gebremariam.The board, Air India said, sought a leader with proven experience in managing large-scale airline turnarounds, driving operational excellence, strengthening safety and service standards, and delivering profitable growth.Notably, Gebremariam’s experience in transforming Ethiopian Airlines into Africa’s largest and most profitable airline group made him the preferred choice to lead the carrier through its next phase of expansion, Air India said.During his tenure at Ethiopian Airlines Group, Gebremariam oversaw a multi-billion-dollar expansion programme under which the airline’s revenues increased more than fourfold while its fleet nearly tripled.Extensive experienceBesides, Gebremariam brings extensive experience in developing long-haul international networks, building global hub operations, expanding maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capabilities, and establishing aviation training infrastructure.Accordingly, Air India said the leadership transition comes as the airline moves beyond its initial stabilisation and integration phase towards execution, international expansion and long-term profitability.Furthermore, the airline said Gebremariam’s experience in workforce development, operational reliability, engineering quality and customer service would support its ambition of becoming a leading global carrier.According to N Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons and Air India, Campbell Wilson had successfully completed the airline’s initial transformation phase by overseeing complex merger and integration activities, initiating fleet modernisation, and strengthening corporate governance.Expansion era“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,” Chandrasekaran said.He added that Gebremariam’s operational expertise, commitment to safety, and experience in developing global aviation hubs would be instrumental in positioning Air India as a premier international airline.On his part, Gebremariam said it was a privilege to lead Air India at a significant stage in its evolution.He added that the airline would focus on operational reliability, customer service, and sustainable long-term growth while supporting India’s emergence as a major global aviation market.Published on August 5, 2026
