Mumbai, April 7 Air India, owned by the Tata Group, announced on Tuesday that its CEO and MD, Campbell Wilson, has resigned, and the airline has set up a committee to find his successor.
Wilson, a native of New Zealand and a former veteran of Singapore Airlines, has been at the helm of the airline for four years as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director.
"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 that the organization and leadership team are in a stable position for the transition," the airline said in a statement.
The Air India board has constituted a committee that will find the successor in the coming months, it said.
Wilson, who took over the reins of the airline in September 2022 following the privatization of the then government-owned carrier, will continue in the position until his successor is announced, the statement added.
Wilson had been under fire following the crash of the airline's London-bound flight in Ahmedabad on June 12, which killed over 250 people, and also for alleged violations of safety norms on various other occasions.
Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran appreciated the contribution of Wilson and said that under his leadership, Air India made progress on several fronts.
"... it is also worth acknowledging the numerous external challenges navigated by the Air India team, including prolonged post-Covid supply chain constraints that have impacted the delivery of new aircraft and retrofit programs, as well as major geopolitical and other headwinds," he said.
Wilson said: "The four years since Air India's privatization have seen the acquisition and successful merger of four airlines, an evolution from public to private sector practices along with renewal of the leadership team, workforce, culture and ways of operating."
Air India has seen the complete modernization of systems, the launch of new physical products, and the deployment of elevated service standards on the ground and in the air, as well as 100 additional aircraft added to the fleet, he added.
Air India's low-cost subsidiary, Air India Express, also does not have a head since March 19 this year following the exit of then Managing Director Aloke after he completed his 5-year tenure.