Tata Sons, the parent company of Air India, has initiated a global search for a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the national carrier, signaling a potential leadership change ahead of schedule. Current CEO Campbell Wilson, whose tenure is officially set to run until June 2027, could be replaced as the conglomerate seeks to accelerate the airline's transformation.
Global Hunt for a New Leader
According to reports, Tata Group chairman N Chandrasekaran, who also chairs Air India, has personally reached out to the chief executives of at least two major international airlines based in the United Kingdom and the United States. These discussions are part of a broader initiative to revamp the leadership team overseeing the group's aviation portfolio, which includes the full-service carrier and its budget subsidiary, Air India Express.
The move comes despite Wilson having presented a comprehensive five-year roadmap in 2022 aimed at reshaping Air India into a globally competitive airline. Campbell Wilson, a New Zealand national, joined Air India in July 2022 after a 26-year career with Singapore Airlines and its budget arm Scoot. While some milestones, like the smooth integration of Vistara, have been achieved, the overall pace of operational improvements is understood to have dissatisfied the top management.
Performance Pressures and Regulatory Scrutiny
Sources indicate that Tata Group's dissatisfaction with Wilson's performance grew last year. A series of operational and safety concerns highlighted by aviation regulators following the tragic Air India Express flight IX-171 crash in Ahmedabad brought intense scrutiny. Issues ranged from aircraft being operated without completed emergency checks to delays in engine part replacements and gaps in monitoring crew fatigue.
Since the accident, which claimed 260 lives, senior government officials are said to have bypassed Wilson and engaged directly with Tata's top brass. This development reportedly influenced assessments of the CEO's future. Furthermore, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued show-cause notices to several senior executives, including Wilson, over alleged compliance lapses, such as operating an aircraft with an expired license.
Operational Hurdles and Financial Strain
The transformation journey has been significantly hampered by persistent global supply chain disruptions. These issues have delayed the delivery of new aircraft and the refurbishment of older planes, directly impacting service quality and punctuality. Wilson himself noted the severity, stating, "We should have received 28 brand new aircraft by now. But the actual number... we have received is zero."
Recurrent technical problems with the wide-body fleet operating long-haul routes have added to the challenges. Financially, the airline continues to struggle. In the financial year 2024-25, Air India and Air India Express reported a combined staggering loss of Rs 10,859 crore on revenues of Rs 78,636 crore, making them the largest loss-making entities within the Tata Group. The closure of Pakistani airspace has further strained finances by forcing longer, more expensive flight paths.
While a person close to Wilson stated the CEO is involved in succession planning and informed the board he would not continue beyond 2027, group officials have disputed this account. They maintain that the push for a leadership transition is being steered directly by Chairman Chandrasekaran, and a change at the top could occur well before Wilson's term formally expires.
