Air India forms panel to find CEO Wilson’s successor

Campbell Wilson has been under fire since June 12 last year following the crash of London-bound flight shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, which killed 241 of the 242 people on board. He has also faced criticism over regulatory lapses

Mumbai: Air India CEO & MD Campbell Wilson has resigned after helming the Tata Group-owned airline for four years that have been punctuated by multiple headwinds, including the fatal AI171 crash in June last year.

The Air India board has constituted a committee that will find the successor in the coming months, a statement from the airline said on Tuesday.

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“Wilson had conveyed his intention to step down in 2026 to Air India Chairman N Chandrasekaran in 2024 and, since then, has been working to ensure the organisation and leadership team is on a stable footing for the transition,” it said.

Wilson had been under fire since June 12 last year following the crash of the airline’s London-bound flight soon after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport, killing 241 of the 242 persons on board. He also came under attack for various regulatory lapses.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which is probing the crash, has already filed its preliminary report while the final report is expected to be submitted in June this year.

Meanwhile, Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran appreciated the contribution of Wilson and said under his leadership Air India made progress on several fronts.

“Campbell and his team have demonstrated tenacity and resolve and have aligned an organization drawn from many backgrounds behind the shared goal of building the new Air India that is now emerging,” he said.

A former Singapore Airlines’ veteran, Wilson took the reins of the airline in September 2022 following the privatisation of the then government-owned carrier in January that year.

Within days of him taking over the charge, Air India announced a five-year comprehensive transformation plan, Vihan. AI, focusing on five key pillars — exceptional customer experience, robust operations, industry-best talent, industry leadership, and commercial efficiency and profitability.

As part of this plan, the airline put in place a detailed roadmap with clear milestones focusing on dramatically growing both its network and fleet, taking a leadership position in technology, sustainability, and innovation, while aggressively investing behind the best industry talent.

“With these foundational blocks now settling and a brief window until deliveries from the nearly 600-strong aircraft orderbook commence in earnest from 2027, the time is right for me to hand over the reins for the next phase of Air India’s rise,” Wilson said in the statement.

At a conference in the national capital last year, Wilson mentioned that the airline was facing a loss of over Rs 4,000 crore due to the Pakistan airspace closure. Air India’s low-cost subsidiary, Air India Express also does not have a head since March 19 this year following the exit of Managing Director Aloke Singh after he completed his 5-year tenure. Air India Express is yet to announce Singh’s replacement.