Former Ethiopian Airlines Chief Executive Tewolde Gebremariam, whose name was among those considered by Uganda as it searched for a replacement for former Uganda Airlines CEO Jenifer Bamuturaki, has been appointed the new Chief Executive of Air India.
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.
Gebremariam had been one of the aviation executives whose credentials were considered during Uganda Airlines' search for a new chief executive following Bamuturaki's departure.
At the time, he had left Ethiopian Airlines and was engaged in private business with aircraft manufacturer Boeing.
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Another Ethiopian aviation executive whose name featured prominently during the search was Abeba Angessa, the former Ethiopian Airlines country manager for Uganda.
Ultimately, Uganda Airlines appointed veteran Ethiopian aviation executive Garma Wake as its Chief Executive Officer.
Since taking office, Wake has earned praise from government officials and aviation industry observers for providing strategic direction aimed at repositioning the national carrier.
At Air India, Gebremariam succeeds Campbell Wilson, who resigned after leading the airline through the initial stages of its transformation following its return to Tata Group ownership in 2022.
His appointment comes at a difficult time for the airline, which continues to grapple with heavy financial losses and increased regulatory scrutiny following last year's fatal crash that claimed 260 lives.
Air India Group posted a record loss of more than $2 billion during the 2025/26 financial year, underscoring the magnitude of the task facing its new chief executive.
Tata Sons Chairman N. Chandrasekaran said 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.
A veteran of more than three decades in aviation, Gebremariam is widely credited with transforming Ethiopian Airlines into Africa's largest and one of the world's fastest-growing carriers.
During his tenure, the airline's revenue more than quadrupled while its fleet nearly tripled in size. He also steered the carrier through two of the industry's biggest recent crises--the COVID-19 pandemic, during which Ethiopian Airlines remained profitable without government financial support, and the global grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX following the 2019 Ethiopian Airlines crash.
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Aviation analyst John Strickland described Gebremariam as an excellent choice to lead Air India, saying his experience managing complex operational and financial challenges makes him well suited for the role.
Industry observers, however, caution that Air India's recovery will take time, with the airline itself acknowledging that its long-term turnaround could take up to a decade.
Gebremariam's appointment also highlights the growing global influence of Ethiopian aviation leadership, with both he and Garma Wake now occupying two of the aviation industry's most high-profile executive positions after Uganda Airlines also turned to Ethiopian expertise to lead its own transformation.
