Air India Appoints Tewolde Gebremariam as CEO and Managing Director

Air India has appointed former Ethiopian Airlines Group Chief Executive Officer Tewolde Gebremariam as its Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, succeeding Campbell Wilson as the airline enters the next phase of its transformation strategy.

The appointment follows a global executive search conducted by the airline’s Board, which said Gebremariam was selected for his experience leading large-scale airline transformation programs, operational excellence, safety, international network expansion and sustained profitability.

During his tenure at Ethiopian Airlines Group, Gebremariam oversaw the airline’s growth into Africa’s largest airline group, expanding revenue more than fourfold while nearly tripling the fleet. Air India said his experience developing international hub operations, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capabilities, aviation training infrastructure and organizational culture will support the carrier’s transition from turnaround to long-term growth.

Air India Chairman N. Chandrasekaran said the airline has completed its initial stabilization, integration and fleet planning phase under Campbell Wilson and is now focused on execution, operational performance and global expansion. Gebremariam said he aims to build a world-class global airline by improving operational reliability, expanding international connectivity and delivering sustained long-term growth.

The airline said it will continue investing in employee training, career development and operational excellence while accelerating improvements in on-time performance, cabin modernization and customer experience.

Air India’s Board also thanked Campbell Wilson for leading the airline’s initial transformation, including the integration of its businesses, fleet modernization initiatives and governance reforms, which it said established the foundation for the airline’s next stage of development.