Days after sell-off, Air India gets new MD & CEO

New Delhi: Multinational firm Tata Sons announced Campbell Wilson as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director (MD) of Air India on Thursday. The board of the airlines released a statement confirming that it has approved the appointment of Wilson subject to requisite regulatory approvals.

50-year-old Wilson is the founder of low-cost airlines Scoot, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines (SIA), holds nearly 26 years of experience in the aviation industry.  He has been associated with the SIA for over 15 years now, where he started working as a Management Trainee in New Zealand in the year 1996.

For the unknown, SIA is a partner to Vistara, the airline which is owned by the Tata sons.

Speaking on Wilson’s appointment, Air India’s chairman N Chandrasekaran said, “I am delighted to welcome Campbell to Air India. He is an industry veteran having worked in key global markets cutting across multiple functions. Further, Air India would benefit from his added experience of having built an airline brand in Asia. I look forward to working with him in building a world-class airline”.

Wilson also holds a Master of Commerce in Business Administration from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand.

Commenting on his appointment, Wilson said, “It is an honor to be selected to lead the iconic Air India and be a part of the highly respected Tata Group. Air India is at the cusp of an exciting journey to become one of the best airlines in the world, offering world-class products and services with a distinct customer experience that reflects Indian warmth and hospitality. I am excited to join Air India and Tata colleagues in the mission of realizing that ambition.”

Earlier, Turkish Airlines chief Ilker Ayci was appointed for the post of CEO at Air India, though the latter had declined the offer on March 1.