Who Is the New CEO?
Air India has tapped Tewolde Gebremariam, the former chief executive of Ethiopia’s flagship carrier, to be its next chief executive officer. Gebremariam joined the airline from a background of more than a decade at Ethiopian Airlines, where he expanded the fleet almost threefold and steered the company through a 2019 Boeing 737 Max tragedy and the Covid‑19 pandemic while keeping it profitable.
Context of the Appointment
The airline, bought by Tata Group from the Indian government in 2022, now faces a mounting crisis. It reported a record loss of almost $2.3 billion (£1.7 billion) last month, and the trail of its 2023 fatal crash over Ahmedabad has cast a long shadow over operations. The board chose Gebremariam after a thorough search, hoping his operational know‑how will drive the “next phase of growth.”
Air India’s chairman, N Chandrasekaran, said the company had completed a first phase of stabilisation under former CEO Campbell Wilson, and that Gebremariam will lead the airline into a critical execution and expansion era. Wilson had planned to step down in 2026 and had set the stage for a smooth transition.
Challenges Ahead
Gebremariam’s tasks are daunting: rebuild workplace culture, lift employee morale, accelerate fleet expansion and refurbishment, and reshape the airline’s network to halt losses. The final crash report on the Ahmedabad‑London accident is due in October.
Other operational mishaps, such as a Delhi‑Vancouver flight that had to back‑track after losing Canadian airspace clearance due to a scheduling error, illustrate systemic issues that the new CEO must rectify.
Expert Perspective
Aviation experts see Gebremariam as “the right leader” for Air India, citing his success in steering Ethiopian Airlines through black‑swan events. Sanjay Lazar, CEO of Avialaz Consultants, noted Gebremariam’s ability to support pilots and engineers during crises. He emphasised that Gebremariam’s priorities will include restoring safety, strengthening organisational culture, and realigning the route network to stop financial bleed.
Air India has not yet disclosed a precise date for Gebremariam’s takeover; further details are expected to follow in the coming weeks.
