Tewolde Gebremariam takes charge as Air India CEO; security clearance still pending: Report

Tewolde Gebremariam will take operational charge of Air India on Monday, replacing former chief executive Campbell Wilson. However, his formal appointment as CEO and accountable manager is pending security clearance from the government, as per a report.

According to a report in The Economic Times, Gebremariam, the former chief of Ethiopian Airlines, is expected to be introduced to Air India employees by chairman N Chandrasekaran at a town hall on Monday. The security clearance by the Union Home Ministry is anticipated by the end of the month, after which he can be officially designated CEO and accountable manager, the report added.

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Chandrasekaran and former Air India chairman and managing director Pradeep Singh Kharola, who have been guiding Gebremariam since he joined the Tata airline early last month, will continue to work closely with him during his initial months, the report added.

Gebremariam takes charge as Air India faces challenges related to safety, operational reliability and financial performance. The airline reported a loss of over ₹26,000 crore in FY26 and has sought a fresh ₹10,000 crore equity infusion from its owners, Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines.

As per the report that cited officials, Gebremariam will have considerable autonomy to address operational gaps and improve the airline's safety and sustainability. He is expected to review operations, identify shortcomings and implement corrective measures quickly.

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Safety remains a key concern following the fatal Ahmedabad crash last June that killed more than 270 people. On August 4, about 20 passengers and four crew members were injured after a Phuket-Delhi flight experienced a sudden loss of altitude. Air India dismissed the aircraft's captain after a preliminary investigation found him non-negative for a psychoactive substance in a confirmatory test.

Gebremariam is expected to focus on consistency in operations, adherence to procedures and reliability. Engineering and maintenance are likely to be priorities. His experience in building operational and engineering capabilities at Ethiopian Airlines is expected to strengthen Air India's technical organisation and maintenance systems as its fleet expands, as per the report.

Senior executives may be reshuffled or functions restructured to improve execution, accountability and efficiency. Financial discipline will also be central to his mandate, with emphasis on cash management, cost control, profitability, leadership development and creating a higher-performance culture.

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Monday's town hall is expected to set the tone for Gebremariam's tenure, with safety, operational excellence, customer experience and financial discipline as key priorities.