Air India has appointed Tewolde Gebremariam, the former chief of Ethiopian Airlines, as its new chief executive and managing director.
The appointment sees one of Africa’s most accomplished aviation leaders take the helm of India’s flag carrier, which is currently owned by the Tata Group.
Tasked with a major turnaround
Gebremariam enters the role during a critical period for the airline. He has been handed the responsibility of steering Air India through a difficult financial turnaround following a period of severe instability.
The carrier has recently struggled with record losses, with figures exceeding $2 billion, necessitating a strategic shift to restore profitability and operational efficiency.
An African aviation expert in India
The move to hire Gebremariam signals Air India’s intent to leverage proven leadership from the global aviation sector. During his tenure at Ethiopian Airlines, Gebremariam became widely recognised for transforming the carrier into a dominant force in African aviation.
His track record in scaling operations and managing complex airline networks is expected to be central to the Tata Group’s strategy for Air India.
The appointment comes as the Tata-owned airline seeks to overhaul its service delivery and financial structure to compete more effectively on the global stage.
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