New Delhi: Air India on Wednesday appointed former Ethiopian Airlines chief Tewolde Gebremariam as its new CEO and Managing Director to replace Campbell WilsonThe change comes amid the Tata Group ai
Published: August 5, 2026, 8:25 PM IST
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Air India confirmed that their flight travelling between Delhi and Amritsar entered Pakistani airspaceFile image/PTI
New Delhi: Air India on Wednesday appointed former Ethiopian Airlines chief Tewolde Gebremariam as its new CEO and Managing Director to replace Campbell WilsonThe change comes amid the Tata Group airline piling up massive losses and facing an investigation into its Boeing Dreamliner crash at the Ahmedabad airport last year, in which 260 people lost their livesWilson, a former Singapore Airlines executive, became the CEO and Managing Director of Air India in 2022 after the Tata Group took over the loss-making Government-owned airline.
Air India had announced earlier that he was keen to quit the top post and a hunt was on to find a new CEO to replace himDuring his decade-plus tenure as CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Group, Gebremariam spearheaded a multi-billion-dollar expansion, transforming a regional carrier into Africa’s largest, most profitable airline group, growing revenue by more than fourfold and fleet size nearly threefoldHis strength lies in managing complex operational landscapes, driving cultural transformation, building competitive global hubs, and developing world-class MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) and aviation training infrastructure, the Air India statement said.
Air India piled up a loss of $2.8 billion for the financial year 2025-26, according to the annual report of Singapore Airlines released recentlyLoss-making Air India has been forced to cancel several international flights in recent months due to the closure of Pakistan’s airspace and the Middle East conflict, which has adversely impacted its revival plans.
“Following an intensive evaluation process, the Air India Board unanimously concluded that Gebremariam possesses the ideal combination of leadership, deep operational expertise, and strategic execution capability required for Air India’s next phase of growth,” Air India said in a statement.
As Air India shifts from its foundational turnaround phase into a high-growth& profitable execution phase, Gebremariam brings crucial capabilities required for Air India’s next leg of journeyHe has strong experience in expanding international long-haul networks and building world-class hub operations, an unrelenting commitment to safety standards, engineering quality, and operational reliabilityHe also has a track record of driving sustained profitability.
While navigating complex economic cycles and dynamic global markets, with a deep experience in workforce upskilling, talent development, and embedding a high-performance, customer-first service culture, the Air India statement said.
Tewolde’s track record in building one of the world’s most efficient and profitable airline groups makes him uniquely suited to lead Air IndiaHis 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.” This leadership transition reinforces Air India’s alignment with national priorities and stakeholder expectations.
