New Delhi: Air India has appointed aviation veteran Tewolde Gebremariam as its new Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, ushering in a new phase of leadership as the Tata Group-owned airline accelerates its long-term transformation into a global aviation powerhouse.
Gebremariam succeeds Campbell Wilson, who led Air India through the initial years of its post-privatisation turnaround following the Tata Group’s acquisition of the airline from the Government of India in 2022.
The appointment follows what Air India described as a comprehensive global search, with the board evaluating both internal and external candidates before unanimously selecting Gebremariam to lead the carrier’s next stage of growth.
“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,” said N. Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons and 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,” he added.
One of the aviation industry’s most respected leaders, Gebremariam spent more than a decade as Chief Executive of Ethiopian Airlines Group, where he led a dramatic expansion of the airline’s global footprint. Under his leadership, the carrier evolved from a regional operator into Africa’s largest and most profitable airline group, with revenue increasing more than fourfold and the fleet nearly tripling in size.
Commenting on his appointment, Gebremariam said, “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,” he added.
His appointment comes as Air India continues executing one of the aviation industry’s most ambitious transformation programmes. Since returning to the Tata Group, the airline has embarked on large-scale fleet renewal, operational restructuring, customer experience upgrades and the integration of multiple airline businesses, alongside placing record aircraft orders to expand its international network.
The company acknowledged Campbell Wilson’s contribution in steering the airline through this critical transition period. During his tenure, Air India implemented wide-ranging organisational reforms, advanced fleet modernisation initiatives and established new governance frameworks that laid the foundation for its long-term growth strategy.
Describing the leadership transition as a “pivotal juncture” in the airline’s evolution, Air India said Gebremariam’s proven experience in scaling a globally competitive airline would be central to advancing its ambition of becoming a world-class international carrier and strengthening India’s position in global aviation.
