Tewolde Gebremariam Appointed as Air India’s New CEO; Replaces Campbell Wilson; Former CEO of Ethiopian Airlines

Air India has appointed Tewolde Gebremariam as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director (MD). This decision comes amidst the resignation of former CEO Campbell Wilson and the airline’s slow pace of recovery from financial losses.

Campbell Wilson had taken charge of Air India in July 2022. He resigned from his post in 2024—a resignation accepted by the board—amidst losses and delays in the company’s turnaround. Wilson continued in his role during the notice period until his successor was appointed.

Tewolde Gebremariam is an Ethiopian business executive and is considered one of Africa’s most successful aviation leaders. He served as the Group Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines Group from 2011 to 2022.

Aircraft Fleet Quadrupled During 11-Year Tenure

During Tewolde’s 11-year tenure, Ethiopian Airlines expanded rapidly and became Africa’s largest airline:

Expansion of aircraft fleet: The airline’s fleet grew from 33 aircraft to 130.

Increase in passenger numbers: Annual passenger numbers rose from 3 million to 12 million (1.2 crore) prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Massive surge in revenue: Under his leadership, the airline’s annual revenue increased from approximately $1 billion to $4.5 billion (roughly ₹37,500 crore). Kept the airline profitable during the pandemic without government aid

During the COVID-19 pandemic, when aviation companies worldwide were on the brink of bankruptcy and reliant on government financial packages, Tewolde rapidly expanded cargo operations. Leveraging this, he kept Ethiopian Airlines profitable without any government bailout package.

He resigned from his position in March 2022 after battling health issues for nearly a year. Now, by taking charge of Air India, he will aim to steer the Tata Group’s aviation business to new heights.