Tewolde Gebremariam to Lead Air India as CEO, Succeeding Campbell Wilson
Air India has appointed Tewolde Gebremariam, the former head of Ethiopian Airlines, as its new CEO and Managing Director. He will succeed the current CEO, Campbell Wilson, who is set to step down on September 30. Tewolde Gebremariam previously served as the CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Group; under his leadership, the airline established itself as one of the most successful and profitable carriers in the world. He now joins the Tata Group-owned airline as it enters the next phase of its transformation and expansion. Campbell Wilson, the current CEO, has led Air India since 2022 and oversaw significant changes during his tenure. Although his term was originally scheduled to run until 2027, he expressed a desire to step down earlier—in 2026—and played a key role in the process of appointing the new CEO. Under Wilson’s leadership, Air India took several crucial steps, including modernizing the fleet, placing large orders for new aircraft, integrating with other Tata Group airlines, and strengthening corporate governance. Tewolde Gebremariam was selected by the Air India board after a thorough evaluation of qualified candidates from around the world. According to the company, the search focused on finding an individual with experience in airline transformation, operational improvement, strengthening safety standards, and driving profitable expansion. Gebremariam’s outstanding track record in these areas led to his selection for the CEO role. Upon his appointment as Air India’s new CEO, Tewolde Gebremariam stated that it is an honor to lead such a historic airline. He expressed great enthusiasm for the opportunity to transform Air India into a world-class airline at a time when India is rapidly emerging as a major global economy. He expressed confidence that, with the cooperation of the employees, management, and the government, he would take Air India to new heights of reliable service, Indian hospitality, and long-term growth.