Air India board meets to set terms for Tewolde Gebremariam’s CEO transition

The board of directors of Air India is meeting on September 15 as the airline prepares for a change in leadership, with former Ethiopian Airlines Group chief Tewolde Gebremariam expected to formally take charge later this month.According to media reports, the meeting is being chaired by Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran and includes discussions on several issues, including the compensation package of the incoming chief executive, according to PTI.Campbell Wilson, who currently serves as Managing Director and CEO of Air India, is set to leave the airline this month after leading its transformation programme since July 2022. Air India board reviews transition plansApart from Chandrasekaran and Wilson, the airline’s board includes independent directors Sanjiv Mehta, Alice G Vaidyan and P R Ramesh. P B Balaji and Goh Choon Phong serve as non-executive non-independent directors.Board members are also expected to recognise Wilson’s contribution to Air India during his tenure. Sources told PTI that he played a key role in implementing a wide-ranging restructuring and modernisation strategy after the Tata Group took control of the airline.Chandrasekaran, Wilson and Gebremariam were among those seen arriving at Bombay House, the Tata Group headquarters, ahead of the meeting.'Forced To Divert, Delay...': Air India Issues Advisory After UK Air Traffic Control Glitch Disrupts Flights New CEO faces operational challengesAir India continues to face multiple challenges, including financial losses, operational disruptions, geopolitical uncertainty and fluctuations in fuel prices. The airline also dealt with the impact of the fatal AI171 crash in June last year, which resulted in 260 deaths.During his first townhall with employees on September 7, Gebremariam outlined his vision for the carrier."We will Make Air India Great Again (MAGA)," he told employees, while seeking their support to minimise disruptions and improve operational performance.Chandrasekaran, speaking at the same event, stressed the need to strengthen safety standards and build greater cost awareness across the organisation.The Tata Group acquired Air India from the government in January 2022. Later, Singapore Airlines acquired a 25.1% stake in the airline as part of its partnership with the Tata Group.

Mumbai: Air India's board of directors are meeting in the city on Tuesday as the airline is set to see the 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, who is the Chairman of Tata Sons, various matters, including the salary structure of the incoming CEO, are expected to be discussed, according to sources.Campbell Wilson, the MD and CEO of Air India, will be stepping down from his role this month.Apart from Chandrasekaran and Wilson, there are five other board members -- Sanjiv Mehta, Alice G Vaidyan and P R Ramesh are the independent directors, while P B Balaji and Goh Choon Phong are the non-executive non-independent directors.The sources said the board members would also be thanking Wilson for his contributions to the airline. He has been at the helm of the airline and piloting an ambitious transformation plan since July 2022.Chandrasekaran, Wilson and Gebremariam were among those seen walking into the Bombay House, the headquarters of the Tata Group in the city.The loss-making Air India has been grappling with multiple challenges, including the fatal AI171 accident in June last year that killed 260 people as well as geopolitical disruptions, airspace closures, fuel price volatility and various operational issues.On September 7, incoming CEO and MD Tewolde Gebremariam, in his first address during a townhall, told the airline's staff that "we will Make Air India Great Again (MAGA)".He had also sought the support and cooperation of the airline's staff and called for minimising disruptions as he emphasised that operational excellence is about getting the basics right every day.At the townhall, 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, and later Singapore Airlines acquired a 25.1 per cent stake in the airline.