Air India bets on Ethiopian Airlines veteran Tewolde for tough reset
Seven years before he was named to lead Air India, Tewolde Gebremariam stood at the scene of an Ethiopian Airlines crash that killed 157 people and helped trigger the worldwide grounding of Boeing 737...
In a significant leadership shift, Tewolde Gebremariam, a veteran of Ethiopian Airlines, has been appointed as the new CEO of Air India. Tewolde's impressive track record spans 11 years at Ethiopia's largest airline, where he transformed the carrier into Africa's leading force. His tenure included critical decisions such as grounding the Boeing 737 MAX jets following a crash in 2019, a move that helped mitigate a disaster that claimed 157 lives.
Tewolde's crisis management skills were further evidenced when he navigated Ethiopian through the subsequent Covid-19 pandemic. Now, he faces Air India's formidable challenges, which include restoring confidence, modernizing an aging fleet, and addressing a recent crash that killed 260 people. The appointment of Tewolde, an outsider to India's aviation scene, signals a significant pivot in Tata Group's approach—moving from strategic partnerships with Indian carrier Vistara to a focused mission of running the airline safely and profitably.
Tata Group owns 75% of Air India, with Singapore Airlines holding the remaining share. Tewolde's appointment comes after Campbell Wilson's departure, and he will formally take over at an unspecified date. His extensive experience in crisis management, aviation infrastructure development, and navigating competitive markets positions him to tackle Air India's daunting tasks.
Written by urgent.news from Gulf Times Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
