Air India has appointed veteran aviation expert Tewolde Gebremariam as its new Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director in a major leadership transition aimed at accelerating its global goals. He succeeds Campbell Wilson, who had led the airline through its initial recovery phase after it returned to the Tata Group.
This appointment, announced by Air India’s Board of Directors on Wednesday, August 5, 2029, follows an extensive global search. It was noted that the board’s selection committee thoroughly evaluated internal and external candidates before unanimously concluding that Tewolde possesses the ideal leadership and operational performance competencies required to lead the airline’s next growth phase.
Tewolde is highly regarded as one of the most successful aviation leaders of his generation. Having served as the Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines for over a decade until 2022, he transformed the carrier from the continent’s fourth-largest airline into Africa’s largest and most profitable aviation group.
His achievements at Ethiopian Airlines are remarkable. Under his leadership, annual revenue grew from $1 billion to $5 billion, aircraft increased from 33 to over 130, and international destinations doubled from 64 to 128.
Welcoming the new CEO, Tata Sons and Air India Chairman N. Chandrasekaran stated: “Having completed the initial stabilization, integration, and aircraft procurement process under Campbell’s leadership, Air India is now entering a critical execution and expansion era. Tewolde’s track record in building one of the world’s most efficient and profitable airline groups makes him uniquely qualified to lead Air India.”
It was noted that Tewolde’s appointment comes at a time when Air India is facing major challenges. Following a tragic plane crash in June 2025 that claimed the lives of 260 people, the airline has been dealing with financial losses and heightened regulatory scrutiny. Additionally, supply chain disruptions and aircraft delivery delays have hindered the airline’s ambitious fleet modernization plans.
Outgoing CEO Campbell Wilson, who joined in May 2022, stated that he had laid a strong foundation—including the complex merger of four airlines, cultural transformation, rebranding, and product upgrades. However, he mentioned that manufacturers failing to meet schedules significantly hampered growth plans.
His leadership has earned him numerous international recognitions, including the 2018 ICAO Aviation Excellence Global Award, recognition as the 2017 Best African CEO, and inclusion in the “100 Most Influential Africans” list.
Upon taking up his new responsibility, Tewolde said: “It is a great honor to be entrusted with the responsibility of leading Air India at such a historic time. Air India has an incredible history, and the opportunity to build a world-class global airline that reflects India’s extraordinary economic potential brings special joy.”
