Ethiopian Aviation Veteran Tewolde Gebremariam Named Air India Chief Executive

Tewolde Gebremariam, a highly regarded aviation executive formerly at the helm of Ethiopian Airlines, has been appointed the new Chief Executive of Air India. This move places a seasoned African aviation leader in charge of India's national carrier as it navigates a critical period of transformation.

Gebremariam's name had surfaced during Uganda Airlines' search for a new chief executive following the departure of Jenifer Bamuturaki. At that time, he had concluded his tenure at Ethiopian Airlines and was involved in private business with aircraft manufacturer Boeing. Another Ethiopian aviation executive, Abeba Angessa, former country manager for Uganda, was also considered by Uganda Airlines, which ultimately appointed Garma Wake as its CEO.

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His appointment, announced on Wednesday by Air India, places one of Africa's most accomplished aviation executives at the helm of India's national carrier as it seeks to accelerate its turnaround amid financial losses and heightened regulatory scrutiny.

Air India's appointment of Gebremariam comes as the airline faces significant financial losses and heightened regulatory scrutiny. He succeeds Campbell Wilson, who led the initial stages of the airline's transformation after its return to Tata Group ownership in 2022. The airline posted a record loss exceeding $2 billion for the 2025/26 financial year, highlighting the substantial task ahead for its new leader.

Gebremariam is widely credited with transforming Ethiopian Airlines into Africa's largest and one of the world's fastest-growing carriers during his more than three-decade tenure. He successfully quadrupled the airline's revenue and nearly tripled its fleet. He also guided the airline through major industry crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, during which Ethiopian Airlines remained profitable without government aid, and the global grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX.

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The airline is now moving from its initial stabilisation phase into a period focused on execution and expansion after major reforms undertaken under Wilson's leadership.