Air India appoints Tewolde Gebremariam as Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director

The Board of Directors of Air India today announced the appointment of Tewolde Gebremariam as the airline’s Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, succeeding Campbell Wilson. This executive transition marks a pivotal juncture in Air India’s transformation journey to become a world-class, leading global airline.

The Board conducted a comprehensive search to identify the next leader for Air India, overseen by a dedicated Board committee. The committee rigorously evaluated internal as well as highly accomplished external candidates from across the world.

The objective of the Board was to identify a leader with a proven record of managing mega-scale airline turnarounds, delivering operational excellence, fostering a strong culture of safety and service, and driving profitable expansion. Following an intensive evaluation process, the Board unanimously concluded that Mr. Gebremariam possesses the ideal combination of leadership, deep operational expertise, and strategic execution capability required for Air India’s next phase of growth.

Tewolde Gebremariam is widely recognized as one of the most successful aviation chief executives. During his decade-plus tenure as CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Group, he spearheaded a multi-billion-dollar expansion, transforming a regional carrier into Africa’s largest, most profitable, and decorated airline group—growing revenue by more than fourfold and fleet size nearly threefold.

His unique strength lies in managing complex operational landscapes, driving cultural transformation, building competitive global hubs, and developing world-class MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) and aviation training infrastructure.

As Air India shifts from its foundational turnaround phase into a high growth & profitable execution phase, Mr. Gebremariam brings crucial capabilities required for Air India’s next leg of journey. He has strong experience in expanding international long-haul networks and building world-class hub operations, an unrelenting commitment to safety standards, engineering quality, and operational reliability. He also has a track record of driving sustained profitability.  while navigating complex economic cycles and dynamic global markets together with a deep experience in workforce upskilling, talent development, and embedding a high-performance, customer-first service culture.

N. Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons and Air India, said: "On behalf of the Board, I am delighted to welcome Tewolde to Air India. Having completed the initial phase of stabilization, integration, and fleet commitments under Campbell's guidance, Air India is now entering a critical execution and expansion era. Tewolde’s track record in building one of the world's most efficient and profitable airline groups makes him uniquely suited to lead Air India. His operational expertise, commitment to safety, and vision for hub development will be instrumental as we establish Air India as a premier global carrier and a source of national pride."

Tewolde Gebremariam, Incoming CEO & Managing Director, said: "It is a profound honour to be entrusted with leading Air India at such a historic moment in its journey. Air India carries an incredible legacy, and the opportunity to build a world-class global airline that reflects India’s extraordinary economic potential is uniquely exciting. I look forward to working closely with Chairman Chandrasekaran, the Board, our employees, and all government and industry partners to deliver exceptional operational reliability, warm Indian hospitality, and sustained long-term growth."

This leadership transition reinforces Air India’s alignment with national priorities and stakeholder expectations. Air India remains steadfastly committed to supporting India’s civil aviation ambitions and national economic vision. Under Mr. Gebremariam’s leadership, Air India will work closely with civil aviation authorities and regulators to strengthen India’s position as a premier global aviation hub, enhance international connectivity, and maintain the highest benchmarks of aviation safety and compliance.

People are the backbone of this transformation. Mr. Gebremariam’s leadership philosophy places people at the centre of organizational success. Employees across all divisions—flight crew, ground operations, engineering, and corporate—can look forward to a continued emphasis on training, exciting career pathways, and an empowering work environment built on merit, accountability, and pride in our national carrier.

Air India belongs to India and represents India to the world and is committed to building a reliable, warm, and world-class airline that every Indian can be immensely proud of. Passengers will see an accelerated push toward on-time performance, modern aircraft cabins, elevated hospitality, and seamless global connectivity.

The Board also thanked Campbell Wilson for his leadership over the past phase of Air India’s revitalization. He successfully oversaw complex merger and integration processes, initiated massive fleet modernization programs, established new corporate governance standards, and laid the foundations that were necessary for the future.

With a solid foundation now in place, Air India enters its next era with clear strategic clarity, robust capital backing, and world-class leadership at the helm. The Board is fully confident that under Tewolde Gebremariam, Air India will realize its full potential as a premier global aviation power

IndiGo names Willie Walsh as Chief Executive Officer

The former IATA Director General will lead the airline's global expansion strategy, operational excellence and long-term growth.

IndiGo announced that Willie Walsh has assumed charge as its new Chief Executive Officer to lead the airline’s next era of growth and global ambition. IndiGo had announced his appointment as its new CEO in March 2026.

Industry experience

Bringing over four decades of global aviation leadership experience, Walsh will work closely with the Board and the management team to build on IndiGo’s strong operational foundations while advancing its strategic ambitions and creating long-term value for customers, shareholders and all other stakeholders.

Managing Director’s perspective

Welcoming Walsh to the organisation, Rahul Bhatia, Managing Director, IndiGo, said, “As IndiGo enters its third decade and stands poised for the next phase of its growth, I am delighted to officially welcome Willie as the airline’s Chief Executive Officer. His extensive global experience in the aviation industry, combined with his operational and strategic expertise, will be instrumental as IndiGo accelerates its international expansion strategy. I am confident that under his leadership, IndiGo will further strengthen its standing on the global aviation stage and increasingly contribute to continued development of the Indian aviation sector.”

CEO’s perspective

Commenting on taking charge, Willie Walsh, Chief Executive Officer, IndiGo, said, “IndiGo has built a remarkable legacy over the last two decades, establishing itself amongst the largest airlines in the world in a short span of time. With India becoming one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets, the opportunities ahead for IndiGo are immense. There could not be a more exciting and opportune time for me to join IndiGo than now. I look forward to working with the entire IndiGo team to build on the airline’s success and take it to greater heights globally.”

Professional background

Walsh is widely regarded as one of the aviation industry’s most accomplished, respected and influential leaders. Renowned for his pragmatic and resolute management, he has successfully led major airlines through growth, transformation, and complex operating environments. His distinguished career highlights commence from his role as a pilot at Aer Lingus to working his way up the ranks to become the CEO of the airline in 2001.

He has held leadership positions at several respected aviation organisations including CEO of British Airways (2005–2011); CEO of International Airlines Group (2011–2020); and most recently serving as Director General of International Air Transport Association (IATA).

New role

As CEO, Walsh will lead the airline’s overall management and strategic direction, with a focus on accelerating its global growth trajectory, driving operational excellence, strengthening network and commercial strategy, and further enhancing customer experience. He will work closely with the Board and the leadership team to guide IndiGo through its next stage of growth, reinforcing its leadership position in the industry.

Rohan Sable Appointed Chief Executive Officer of Charcoal Concepts

Mumbai, India, May 2026 – Charcoal Concepts, the multi-brand, multi-country restaurant platform under K Hospitality Corp, India’s largest privately held food services company, is delighted to announce the appointment of Rohan Sable as its Chief Executive Officer.

He will lead the strategic direction, growth, and operations of a dynamic portfolio of over 45 restaurants across India and key international markets including London, Colombo, Kuwait, and Dubai. In his role, he will be responsible for driving brand vision, business expansion, and operational excellence across marquee brands such as Copper Chimney, Bombay Brasserie, Bombay Borough, and Wagamama India, while also spearheading the development and incubation of new concepts within the group.

Rohan brings with him a rich and diverse professional journey spanning over 25 years in the hospitality industry, having held leadership roles across some of the most respected names in the sector, including Regional COO (South India) for PVR INOX Ltd, Area General Manager Delegate of Accor, and more.

His experience cuts across restaurant operations, brand building, and business expansion, with a strong track record of driving growth and operational excellence. Over the years, he has worked across both Indian and international hospitality formats, gaining deep insights into evolving consumer preferences, premium dining experiences, and scalable business models — expertise that he now brings to Charcoal Concepts.

In his new role, Rohan will lead Charcoal Concepts into its next phase of growth, with a clear long-term vision: to build India’s premier multi-brand, multi-format, cuisine-forward restaurant powerhouse by 2033. Under his leadership, the company has outlined an ambitious strategic roadmap to scale its footprint from 35 outlets in India and 5 outlets internationally across London, Colombo, Kuwait, and Dubai to over 272+ outlets in India and internationally over the next 8 years, strengthening its presence across existing and new markets.

Rohan’s leadership approach combines strong operational discipline with a forward-looking growth mindset, enabling the business to balance scale with brand distinctiveness and guest experience. His focus will be on accelerating expansion, unlocking new formats, and further strengthening Charcoal Concepts’ portfolio of iconic and emerging brands.

With this appointment, Charcoal Concepts reinforces its commitment to consistency, innovation, growth, and delivering compelling dining experiences, while continuing to play a key role in shaping India’s evolving F&B landscape.