Air India Appoints Ex-Ethiopian Airlines Chief as CEO After Turbulent Period

Air India has hired former CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Group, Mr. Tewolde Gebremariam as its new CEO on Wednesday, who will lead the airline during its supposedly turbulent times. This is an important development as Air India is undergoing changes in its management post privatization when it was purchased by the Tata Group.

Prior to joining Air India, Gebremariam had been expected to serve as the CEO of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). According to Bloomberg, last month it was reported that Gebremariam was being considered by PIA for the position of CEO as part of the airline’s own revitalization efforts. Thus, Gebremariam’s subsequent decision to join Air India has marked a change in his career path.

Air India appoints Tewolde Gebremariam as the replacement for Campbell Wilson, who resigned following his tenure at the head of the airline from the time it was acquired by Tata Group in 2022. The resignation marks the end of an era which involved several organizational transformations undertaken by the airline while rebuilding itself in domestic and international markets.

Speaking about the change of leadership in the company, the chairman of Tata Sons N Chandrasekaran said that at present the airline is entering "a critical era of execution and growth." It means that the appointment of Gebremariam is aimed at speeding up the process of the airline's transformation, and not just sustaining the existing trend.

Gebremariam headed Ethiopian Airlines Group for over a decade before joining Air India, and has a legacy that Air India has used to explain his selection for the position. Air India commended him on his skills at turning around airlines, and this indicates that his career is a good match for what Air India wants to do.

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Air India, having been under the control of the Tata Group after the government divestiture in 2022, has since then initiated a robust revival plan by putting in place some record-breaking orders for new aircraft, rejuvenating its aging fleet of aircraft, and working towards merging Air India with other airlines that fall within the portfolio of the Tata Group.

The turnaround plans of the airline were dealt a major blow in June 2025, when Air India Flight 171 crashed soon after taking off from Ahmedabad bound for London. This resulted in the death of 241 out of the total 242 passengers aboard, as well as 19 ground casualties, and was considered to be among the worst aviation accidents in recent history. As a result, the airline is now under greater regulation oversight and has received multiple show-cause notices for various safety breaches.

With Gebremariam in charge of the airline now, Air India will have the daunting task of not only carrying out the aggressive plan it is implementing but also dealing with the increased concerns regarding safety, following last year’s fatal crash. It might just be helpful for Air India that Gebremariam has vast experience overseeing the growth of Ethiopian Airlines.