ISLAMABAD – Aviation expert Tewolde Gebremariam got the CEO role, but not at Pakistan International Airlines PIA after ending weeks of speculation over his future after he emerged as leading contender to head Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).
Air India, which reported record financial loss exceeding $2 billion for 2025–26FY, got Ethiopian Airlines Group chief Tewolde Gebremariam as its new Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, while Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has been left without the turnaround specialist it had reportedly hoped would spearhead its post-privatization revival.
The appointment ends weeks of speculation over Gebremariam’s future. His name had emerged as a leading contender for PIA’s top position, with reports suggesting he was expected to lead the national airline after the completion of mandatory security clearances. However, sources later indicated that despite being viewed as a preferred candidate, he was never formally approached for the role.
But instead of PIA, Air India moved decisively, handing him responsibility for one of the world’s most ambitious airline transformation projects. His appointment comes at a crucial stage in Air India’s transformation under Tata Group, which reclaimed the airline in 4 years back.
For Pakistan, the development raises fresh questions about the future leadership of PIA as the national carrier prepares for a new chapter following privatization.
Gebremariam had been viewed as a high-profile candidate capable of leading the airline’s restructuring efforts, thanks to his international reputation for delivering operational reforms and financial growth. His move to Air India means PIA must continue its search for a leader capable of steering the airline through one of the most critical phases in its history.
He joined Ethiopian Airlines in the 1980s as a traffic officer before progressing through key positions in cargo operations, regional management, marketing and commercial leadership. After serving as Chief Operating Officer, he became Group CEO in 2011.
He holds an MBA from the Open University in the United Kingdom and has received an honorary doctorate from Addis Ababa University for his contributions to aviation and business leadership. His leadership extended beyond periods of rapid growth. Gebremariam guided Ethiopian Airlines through the aftermath of the 2019 Flight 302 tragedy and later navigated the airline through the unprecedented disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, earning international recognition for crisis management and strategic leadership.
He has also served on the United Nations High-Level Advisory Group on Sustainable Transport, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Board of Governors and several corporate boards across Africa.
His achievements have earned him numerous global honours, including African CEO of the Year and multiple Airline Strategy Awards. He currently serves as Senior Strategic Advisor at Delta Air Lines while also leading his consultancy, TGM Advisory Services LLC.
Who Is Tewolde Gebremariam? Aviation Veteran from Africa expected to lead PIA
