September 7, 2026 • Parijat Sourabh
Air India Chairman N. Chandrasekaran and employees gathered at a town hall to welcome Gebremariam, alongside outgoing CEO and MD Campbell Wilson, marking the next phase of the airline’s transformation journey.
The airline shared an image on X featuring former CEO and MD Campbell Wilson, Air India Chairman N. Chandrasekaran and new CEO and MD Tewolde Gebremariam, with the caption, “One team. One vision. One journey ahead.”
One team. One vision. One journey ahead.
Led by Air India Chairman N. Chandrasekaran, employees came together at a town hall to welcome Air India's new CEO, Tewolde Gebremariam, alongside outgoing CEO Campbell Wilson, marking the next chapter in Air India's transformation… pic.twitter.com/jjXW2esTp6— Air India Newsroom (@AirIndia_News) September 7, 2026
Gebremariam’s appointment was announced on August 5, 2026, by Air India’s Board of Directors following a comprehensive global search overseen by a dedicated Board committee.
Gebremariam brings more than 40 years of experience in the aviation industry. He served as Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines and has also worked as an aviation consultant at TGM Advisory Services LLC. According to his LinkedIn profile, his most recent role was as Senior Strategic Advisor at Delta Air Lines.
During his decade-plus tenure as Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Group, he spearheaded a multi-billion-dollar expansion, transforming the regional carrier into Africa’s largest, most profitable and most decorated airline group. Under his leadership, the airline’s revenue grew more than fourfold, while its fleet size nearly tripled.
His expertise spans international long-haul network expansion, global hub operations, MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) infrastructure, and aviation training.
The new Air India CEO and MD sought the support and cooperation of the airline’s staff and called for minimising disruptions, stressing that operational excellence is about getting the basics right every day.
Addressing Air India employees for the first time, Gebremariam said the airline has a powerful heritage, a strong brand and enormous potential. “If we do the right things at the right time, the sky is the limit,” he said, according to PTI.
Gebremariam said he was coming from the US and that “we will Make Air India Great Again (MAGA).”
Recalling his earlier stint in Mumbai in the 1990s, Gebremariam said that Air India was at the top of the industry at the time and that he now has the opportunity to make it a strong brand again.
He stressed that a safety-first culture has to be the number one priority, while emphasising the need to minimise disruptions. “When disruptions do occur, handle them professionally and take care of the customers,” he said.
“I need your support and cooperation. We cannot bring about meaningful change without the commitment of our people,” he told the staff.
Notably, Gebremariam’s appointment comes as the airline posted a loss of over ₹22,000 crore in FY26 and is now seeking a fresh equity infusion of ₹10,000 crore from its owners, Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines.
According to The Economic Times, Gebremariam’s key responsibilities will include:
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Strengthening engineering and maintenance: Build stronger technical and maintenance capabilities to support Air India’s expanding fleet.
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Improving operational execution: Restructure teams and functions where required to improve accountability and efficiency.
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Building a leadership team: Strengthen the management pipeline and bring in fresh talent where necessary.
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Driving financial discipline: Maintain tighter oversight of costs, cash flow and profitability while supporting growth.
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Creating a high-performance culture: Establish greater accountability and a stronger focus on execution.
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Prioritising safety and operational excellence: Raise standards for safety, reliability and operational performance.
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Improving customer experience: Ensure operational and organisational changes lead to a better passenger experience.
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