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Tewolde Gebremariam Takes Charge as Air India CEO Amidst Expansion Plans
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News18•01-10-2026, 15:30
Tewolde Gebremariam Takes Charge as Air India CEO Amidst Expansion Plans
- •Tewolde Gebremariam formally assumed charge as the CEO and MD of Air India on Thursday after receiving security clearance.
- •His appointment was announced on August 5, making him the second foreign CEO and MD to lead the airline.
- •Gebremariam takes over at a critical time as Air India pursues ambitious expansion plans despite external challenges.
- •During a townhall, he emphasized cost discipline, sustainable profitability, safety, and operational reliability as key priorities.
- •He plans to implement programs to reward employees for ideas that lead to cost savings and improved operational efficiency.
Key Questions Answered
Tewolde Gebremariam formally assumed charge as the CEO and Managing Director of Air India on Thursday after receiving his security clearance. He succeeds Campbell Wilson and is the second foreign CEO to head the loss-making carrier.
During a staff townhall, Tewolde Gebremariam identified sustainable profitability, safety, and operational reliability as the key priorities for Air India. He also emphasized that cost discipline must become an integral part of the airline's culture.
Gebremariam is an aviation veteran and the former chief of Ethiopian Airlines Group, where he spent nearly four decades and served as CEO for over 11 years, transforming it into Africa's largest and most profitable airline.
