Air India is set to have a new chief executive, Tewolde Gebremariam, replacing Campbell Wilson as the airline faces losses and heightened scrutiny over safety and operational reliability. Multiple outlets report that Gebremariam is taking over with a mandate focused on improving safety culture, strengthening operational execution, and pursuing financial discipline as Air India continues its transformation.

According to reports, the transition begins with an employee town hall on Monday alongside Air India chairman N Chandrasekaran. The Economic Times (India) adds that Gebremariam’s formal “CEO and accountable manager” role may be delayed due to pending security clearance, with the chairman and other senior leadership expected to work closely with him during the initial period. Outlets also note that the airline is dealing with major financial strain, including very large reported losses and a request for fresh equity.

Several sources highlight recent incidents that are driving safety concerns, including the June Ahmedabad crash and an August Phuket–Delhi incident involving a sudden loss of altitude, after which the pilot was dismissed following investigation-related testing. Other outlets emphasize Gebremariam’s messaging on operational excellence and customer experience, including punctuality, baggage handling, and disruption management, while framing reliability as part of rebuilding customer trust. Reported differences are mainly in emphasis—some focus more on safety culture and empowerment to halt operations, while others stress transformation and cost efficiency.