MUMBAI, 7 August 2026: The Board of Directors of Air India confirmed on Wednesday the appointment of Tewolde Gebremariam as the airline’s Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, succeeding Campbell Wilson.
The Board conducted a comprehensive search to identify the next leader for Air India, overseen by a dedicated Board committee.
Following an intensive evaluation process, the 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.
Tewolde Gebremariam is widely recognised as one of the most successful aviation chief executives. 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 threefold.
As Air India shifts from its foundational turnaround phase to a high-growth, profitable execution phase, Gebremariam brings the crucial capabilities required for Air India’s next leg of its journey. He 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 reliability. He also has a track record of driving sustained profitability.
Air India’s incoming CEO & Managing Director, Tewolde Gebremariam, said: “It is a profound honour to be entrusted with leading Air India at such a historic moment in its journey. 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.”
This leadership transition reinforces Air India’s alignment with national priorities and stakeholder expectations. Air India remains steadfastly committed to supporting India’s civil aviation ambitions and national economic vision. Under Gebremariam’s leadership, Air India will work closely with civil aviation authorities and regulators to strengthen India’s position as a premier global aviation hub, enhance international connectivity, and maintain the highest benchmarks of aviation safety and compliance.
The Board also thanked Campbell Wilson for his leadership over the past phase of Air India’s revitalisation. He successfully oversaw complex merger and integration processes, initiated large-scale fleet modernisation programmes, established new corporate governance standards, and laid the foundations necessary for the future.
(Source: Air India)
