Tewolde Gebremariam's Air India takeover: Board meets ahead of CEO transition

Air India's board of directors are meeting in the city on Tuesday as the airline prepares for a CEO transition, with former Ethiopian Airlines Group chief Tewolde Gebremariam expected to formally take charge later this month.

At the board meeting chaired by N Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons, various matters are expected to be discussed, including the salary structure of the incoming CEO, according to sources.

Campbell Wilson, the Managing Director and CEO of Air India, will step down from his role this month.

Apart from Chandrasekaran and Wilson, the airline's board has five other members. Sanjiv Mehta, Alice G Vaidyan and P R Ramesh are independent directors, while P B Balaji and Goh Choon Phong are non-executive non-independent directors.

Board set to thank Wilson for his tenure

Sources said the board members are also expected to thank Wilson for his contributions to Air India. He has led the airline and overseen an ambitious transformation plan since taking charge in July 2022.

Chandrasekaran, Wilson and Gebremariam were among those seen entering Bombay House, the Tata Group's headquarters in the city.

Air India faces multiple challenges

The loss-making airline has been dealing with several challenges, including the fatal AI171 accident in June last year that killed 260 people. It has also faced geopolitical disruptions, airspace closures, fuel price volatility and various operational issues.

On September 7, incoming CEO and MD Tewolde Gebremariam addressed Air India employees for the first time during a town hall. He told staff that "we will Make Air India Great Again (MAGA)".

He also sought the support and cooperation of employees and called for minimising disruptions, while stressing that operational excellence is about getting the basics right every day.

Chandrasekaran stresses safety and cost control

During the town hall, Chandrasekaran emphasised the need to focus on safety and build a stronger culture of cost consciousness.

Tata Group took over Air India from the government in January 2022. Later, Singapore Airlines acquired a 25.1 per cent stake in the airline.