Campbell Wilson Appointed as CEO and Managing Director of Air India

Tata Sons issued an official statement to inform the appointement.

Air India special flight AI-1947, that was en route to Boryspil International Airport in Kyiv, was not allowed permission to land in the country following the issuance of a NOTAM (Notice to Air Missions).

(Photo: The Quint) 

Tata Sons on Thursday, 12 May, appointed Campbell Wilson as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director (MD) of Air India.

In a statement, Tata Sons said that the Air India board has approved the appointment of Wilson.

"Mr Wilson, 50, has 26 years of aviation industry expertise across both full service and low-cost Airlines," the statement read.

Meanwhile, Air India Chairman N Chandrasekaran said Wilson "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."

Wilson was the founding CEO of Scoot in 2011 and led the company until 2016.

"He then served as the Senior Vice President Sales & Marketing of SIA, where he oversaw Pricing, Distribution, eCommerce, Merchandising, Brand & Marketing, Global Sales and the airline's overseas offices, before returning for a second stint as the CEO of Scoot in April 2020," the statement said.

Meanwhile, Campbell Wilson said, "It is an honour 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 realising that ambition."

Background

The appointment comes months after the Air India divestment process completed on 27 January, with the Tata Group officially taking over the national airline.

Previously, the Tata Group had announced that Turkish Airlines chairperson Ilker Ayci would be the chief executive of Air India. However, Ayci, on 1 March, turned down the Tata Sons' offer, after his appointment was met with opposition in India.

On 14 March, Natarajan Chandrasekaran, the chairman of Tata Sons, was appointed as the chairperson of Air India.

Tata Sons had emerged as the winning bidder for state-run airline Air India at a bid of Rs 18,000 crore in October 2021. This came after four years of efforts by the Indian government to find a buyer for its beleaguered national carrier, Air India and its subsidiaries.

Notably, business tycoon JRD Tata had founded the airline and had piloted the first flight in 1932.