Gebremariam was chosen following an intensive global search led by Air India’s board committee.
Ending months of speculation, Air India’s board of directors announced the appointment of former Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO, Tewolde Gebremariam, as CEO & Managing Director, succeeding Campbell Wilson, on Wednesday.
Gebremariam is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished leaders in the aviation industry. During his decade‑plus tenure at Ethiopian Airlines Group, he spearheaded a multi‑billion‑dollar expansion, transforming a regional carrier into Africa’s largest and most profitable airline group. Under his leadership, revenue grew more than fourfold, and fleet size nearly tripled.
N Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons and Air India, 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 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.”
Gebremariam stated, “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 was selected after a rigorous search overseen by a dedicated board committee, evaluating both internal and external candidates from across the world. In its statement, Air India said the objective was to identify a leader with a proven record of managing large‑scale airline turnarounds, delivering operational excellence, fostering a strong culture of safety and service, and driving profitable expansion. “Following an intensive evaluation process, the Board unanimously concluded that Mr Gebremariam possesses the ideal combination of leadership, deep operational expertise, and strategic execution capability required for Air India’s next phase of growth.”
Piloting the Next Phase
As Air India transitions from its turnaround phase to a high‑growth execution stage, Gebremariam’s experience will be crucial. He is known for managing complex operational landscapes, driving cultural transformation, building competitive global hubs, and developing world‑class MRO and aviation training infrastructure.
He also brings strong expertise in expanding international long‑haul networks, embedding safety and engineering quality, and ensuring operational reliability. His track record of sustained profitability through economic cycles, combined with deep experience in workforce upskilling and customer‑first service culture, positions him to steer Air India into its next era of global competitiveness.
The board also thanked outgoing CEO Campbell Wilson for his leadership during Air India’s revitalisation. Wilson successfully oversaw complex merger and integration processes, initiated fleet modernisation programmes, established new governance standards, and laid the foundations for future growth.
Gebremariam’s appointment comes at a time when the national flag‑carrier is battling mounting losses and facing a prolonged probe into the crash of Flight AI171 (Ahmedabad-London Gatwick) in June 2025. The tragedy, which claimed 260 lives, has raised safety concerns even as Air India contends with intensifying competition from rival IndiGo on some of its prized international routes. Recently, Chairman Chandrasekaran said he was taking a ten‑year outlook for the airline to achieve a complete turnaround. Air India returned to the salt‑to‑software Tata Group fold in 2022 after being under government ownership for 69 years.