Ex-Ethiopian Airlines chief Tewolde named Air India CEO
Air India on Wednesday appointed former Ethiopian Airlines chief Tewolde Gebremariam as its new CEO and Managing Director to replace Campbell Wilson, marking another change of guard at the airline after the takeover by the Tata Group four years ago. Gebremariam, who will be the second foreign CEO at Air India, will be taking over the reins at a time when the airline is working on its ambitious expansion plans amid multiple external headwinds. Wilson resigned in April this year after overseeing the initial phase of the airline’s transformation. The country’s two top airlines — Air India and IndiGo — now have foreign CEOs. On August 3, Irish national and former chief of global airlines’ grouping IATA, Willie Walsh, took over as IndiGo CEO.
Announcing his appointment, Air India said Gebremariam is widely recognised as one of the most successful aviation chief executives. The executive transition marks a pivotal juncture in the airline’s transformation journey to become a world-class, leading global airline, the airline said in a release.
“During his decade-plus tenure as CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Group, he spearheaded a multi-billion-dollar expansion, transforming a regional carrier into Africa’s largest, most profitable, and decorated airline group — growing revenue by more than fourfold and fleet size nearly three-fold,” Air India said in a release.
According to the release, his unique 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.
Tata Sons and Air India Chairman N Chandrasekaran said that having completed the initial phase of stabilisation, integration, and fleet commitments under Campbell’s guidance, the airline 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,” he said. Gebremariam said 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. The airline’s board conducted a comprehensive search to identify the next leader for Air India, overseen by a dedicated Board committee. The committee rigorously evaluated internal as well as highly accomplished external candidates from across the world, according to the release.
His international experience includes serving as Regional Director for India and Southeast Asia based in Mumbai, followed by a stint as Area Manager for Saudi Arabia in Jeddah. When Ethiopian Airlines launched direct flights to the United States, he was appointed Area Sales Manager for Northeast USA and Canada, based in New York.
His rise within Ethiopian Airlines continued with appointments as Executive Officer for Marketing and Sales in 2004 and Chief Operating Officer in 2006, where he oversaw commercial operations, flight operations, customer services, and maintenance and engineering.
On January 1, 2011, he was elevated to Group Chief Executive Officer, a position from which he built Ethiopian Airlines into Africa’s largest and most profitable carrier. Beyond the airline, Gebremariam has held several influential positions in the global aviation ecosystem. He has served on the Board of Governors of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the executive committee of the African Airlines Association (AFRAA), and the United Nations Secretary-General’s High-level Advisory Group on Sustainable Transport.
He also served on the boards of several Ethiopian public sector organisations. Academically, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Addis Ababa University and an MBA from the Open University in the United Kingdom.
