Air India taps Ethiopian Airlines veteran Tewolde Gebremariam as CEO

Tata-backed Air India has named former Ethiopian Airlines chief Tewolde Gebremariam to succeed Campbell Wilson, subject to government security clearance. The appointment puts an experienced airline turnaround executive at the helm as the carrier works through heavy losses and operational pressure.

— Filed Thu, 6 Aug, 2026, 00:25 IST · Source ET Small Business · Updated

Air India appointed former Ethiopian Airlines CEO Tewolde Gebremariam to lead its Tata-backed turnaround, replacing Campbell Wilson. The carrier faces major accumulated losses, operational challenges and geopolitical pressure following last year's fatal crash.

Why this matters

The CEO change follows Air India’s recent DGCA scrutiny after turbulence injuries on its Phuket-Delhi flight, adding leadership transition to the carrier’s operational pressures.

Leadership signals are accelerating, up +52,050% QoQ.