Pioneer in short
Tata begins Air India CEO search
Tata Group-owned Air India has initiated a search for a new Chief Executive Officer as incumbent CEO and Managing Director Campbell Wilson’s tenure is set to end next year, with both sides reportedly unwilling to renew the contract beyond 2027. Simultaneously, Tata is also looking to appoint a new Managing Director for its low-cost arm, Air India Express, where current head Aloke Singh is expected to complete his term in 2027. Sources said the CEO selection process could take three to six months, and any overlap with Wilson’s tenure would help ensure a smooth leadership transition. Air India declined to comment on the development. Wilson, who was appointed in July 2022, was seen at Tata House this week for a scheduled meeting. Tata Group acquired Air India from the Government in January 2022 after decades of State ownership. Meanwhile, the final report into the Air India Boeing 787-8 crash in Ahmedabad is expected around June. The leadership revamp is seen as critical as the airline accelerates fleet expansion, merger integration, service upgrades, and brand repositioning to compete aggressively with global and domestic rivals worldwide competitors.
US-India Coordinate on Murder Case
In a major development in the Nikitha Godishala murder case, prime accused Arjun Sharma has been arrested in Tamil Nadu following an international manhunt involving Interpol, Indian agencies, and US law enforcement. Sharma, 26, Nikitha’s former boyfriend, was taken into custody days after her body was found with multiple stab wounds in his apartment in Columbia, Maryland. Howard County Police confirmed that Sharma fled the United States shortly after Nikitha was reported missing on New Year’s Eve and arrived in India on January 4. He now faces first and second degree murder charges under US law. Investigators are also examining allegations that Sharma transferred $3,500 from Nikitha’s bank account before leaving the US.
Bangladesh bans IPL broadcast
Bangladesh has banned the broadcast of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season following the removal of national pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the Kolkata Knight Riders squad on instructions from the BCCI. The decision was announced by Bangladesh’s Information and Broadcasting Ministry, which said no “logical reason” was provided for Rahman’s ouster, calling the move hurtful and offensive to the people of Bangladesh. The IPL is scheduled to begin on March 26. The broadcast ban comes a day after Bangladesh declined to travel to India for next month’s T20 World Cup, asking the ICC to shift all its matches to Sri Lanka, the tournament’s co-host. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia cited unspecified “developments all around” for Rahman’s release.
