New Delhi, India: Air India has appointed former Ethiopian Airlines Group Chief Executive Officer Tewolde Gebremariam as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director (MD), marking a major leadership transition as the Tata Group-owned carrier enters the next phase of its long-term transformation. The appointment, announced by Air India’s Board of Directors on August 5, will see Gebremariam succeed Campbell Wilson, who resigned in April and will step down on September 30 after serving his notice period. The appointment is subject to the Government of India’s requisite security clearance.
The appointment concludes Air India’s global search for a new chief executive, during which the Board sought a leader with a proven record of managing large-scale airline turnarounds, delivering operational excellence, strengthening safety culture and driving profitable expansion. Air India said the search committee evaluated both internal and external candidates before unanimously selecting Gebremariam to lead the airline through its next stage of execution and expansion.
Announcing the appointment, Air India said the leadership transition marks “a pivotal juncture in Air India’s transformation journey to become a world-class, leading global airline.” The airline described Gebremariam as one of the aviation industry’s most accomplished chief executives, crediting him with transforming Ethiopian Airlines Group from a regional carrier into Africa’s largest, most profitable and one of its most decorated airline groups.
It highlighted his expertise in managing complex operational environments, leading cultural transformation, developing global hub operations, expanding long-haul international networks, building world-class Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) capabilities and aviation training infrastructure, while maintaining an unwavering commitment to safety, engineering excellence and operational reliability.
Gebremariam brings more than 37 years of aviation experience, including 11 years as Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines. During his tenure, Ethiopian Airlines’ annual revenue increased from about US$1 billion to US$5 billion, passenger traffic grew from three million to 12 million annually, cargo volumes rose significantly, international destinations doubled from 64 to 128, and the workforce expanded from around 6,300 to 17,000 employees. The airline’s revenue more than quadrupled while its fleet nearly tripled under his leadership. He also served as Ethiopian Airlines’ Regional Director for India and South Asia in 1995-96, earned a Bachelor’s degree in Economics in 1993 and an MBA from The Open University in 1999. After leaving Ethiopian Airlines in 2022, he served as a senior strategic adviser at Delta Air Lines.
Widely regarded as one of the aviation sector’s leading turnaround specialists, Gebremariam successfully steered Ethiopian Airlines through two of the industry’s biggest crises the COVID-19 pandemic without government financial assistance and the global grounding following the fatal Boeing 737 MAX crash in 2019 while maintaining the airline’s growth trajectory. Aviation analyst John Strickland described him as “a really excellent” choice for Air India, stating, “It takes someone with a particular set of skills and experience to navigate such a complex situation.” He added that Gebremariam is “better equipped than any other theoretical candidate for the role.”
Gebremariam replaces Campbell Wilson, who was appointed CEO and Managing Director in 2022 following the Tata Group’s acquisition of Air India. During his four-year tenure, Wilson led the airline’s initial transformation, overseeing the merger with Vistara, launching a comprehensive brand overhaul, initiating one of the aviation industry’s largest fleet modernisation programmes, strengthening corporate governance and laying the operational foundations for Air India’s revival. The Board thanked Wilson for “successfully” leading the airline through its first phase of revitalisation and for establishing the groundwork required for its future growth.
The leadership change comes at a particularly challenging period for Air India. The airline remains loss-making, with Air India Group reporting a record loss of more than US$2 billion in FY 2025-26, according to Singapore Airlines’ annual report. The carrier is also operating under heightened regulatory and operational scrutiny following last year’s Air India Flight AI171 crash, which claimed 260 lives and intensified oversight of its operations.
Welcoming Gebremariam, 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.” Chandrasekaran had also stated in Air India’s annual report that the airline’s complete transformation could take up to a decade, underscoring the scale of the task ahead.
Responding to 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. 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.”
Gebremariam’s appointment signals Air India’s transition from rebuilding its organisational foundations to improving operational performance, profitability, network expansion and service reliability as the Tata Group seeks to establish the carrier among the world’s leading global airlines.
