Tewolde Gebremariam

Businessperson, Corporate Executive

Ethiopian Ethiopia

Quick Info

ProfessionBusinessperson, Corporate Executive
NationalityEthiopian
Date of Birth25/09/1965
Age61 years
BirthplaceEthiopia

Latest News about Tewolde Gebremariam

18/09/2026

Reports said Tewolde Gebremariam was considering folding Air India Express into the wider Air India group to cut costs and streamline management. The proposal was described as part of a broader effort to reduce operational complexity and address financial pressure at the airline.

07/09/2026

Tewolde Gebremariam began taking operational charge at Air India and outlined a focus on safety, reliability, punctuality, and basic service quality. Reports also said his formal designation was still subject to pending security clearances.

05/08/2026

Air India appointed Tewolde Gebremariam as its Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, bringing in the former Ethiopian Airlines chief to lead the carrier’s next phase. The announcement said he would succeed Campbell Wilson as part of the airline’s turnaround and transformation effort.

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Bio/Wiki

Full NameTewolde GebreMariam Tesfay
Known forBeing appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of Air India in August 2026

Physical Stats & More

Eye ColourBlack
Hair ColourSalt & Pepper

Educational Qualification(s)

College/University
  • Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
  • Open University (OU), UK
Degrees
  • Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (1986-1993)
  • Master of Business Administration from Open University, UK (1996-1999)

Personal Life

Food HabitNon-vegetarian

Relationships & More

Marital StatusMarried

Career

Award(s)
  • 2012 | African CEO of the Year Award
  • Best African Business Leader Award
  • 2013 | Airline Strategy Award for Regional Leadership
  • Planet Africa Professional Excellence Award
  • 2015 | Most Gender Focused CEO Award
  • Ethiopian Airlines Board of Directors Gold Medal
  • Plaque for Exceptional Leadership and Successful Accomplishments Towards Vision 2025
  • International GrandPrix Special Award
  • 2019 | African CEO's Hall of Fame Induction
  • 2020 | 100 Most Influential Africans
  • 2021 | Airline Cargo Leadership Award
  • 2022 | Airline Business Award (Airline Strategy Awards)
Positions Held
  • Joined Ethiopian Airlines in November 1985 as transportation agent
  • Promoted to Regional Director India and South East Asia in March 1995
  • Area Manager for Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Syria (1996-1998)
  • Regional Director for The Americas (1998-2004)
  • Executive Officer of Marketing and Sales (2004-2006)
  • Chief Operating Officer (COO) (2006-2010)
  • Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines (2011-2022)
  • Consultant for TGM Advisory Services LLC (2022-present)
  • Senior Strategic Advisor at Delta Air Lines (2022-present)
  • Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Air India (from August 2026)
Achievements
  • Under leadership, Ethiopian Airlines became the largest airline in Africa
  • Increased annual turnover from approximately US$1 billion to US$4.5 billion
  • Grew aircraft from 33 to 130 and passengers from 3 million to 12 million
  • Built infrastructure exceeding US$700 million including Africa’s largest hotel and an Aviation Academy

Some Lesser Known Facts

1. Received an honorary doctorate from Addis Ababa University in 2019
2. Helped in transporting COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic
3. Honoured with the 'Ordem de Rio Branco' award by the Government of Brazil
Information on this page is collected from public sources and may not be 100% accurate. Report an error
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