Air India faces mounting pressure after serious safety lapses and persistent losses, with last year’s fatal crash intensifying scrutiny. The CEO’s exit signals a major leadership shift as the airline works to address compliance failures and restore operational credibility.
Air India CEO Campbell Wilson has resigned amid mounting losses and ongoing safety concerns following last year’s crash that killed at least 260 people, Mint reported.
Campbell Wilson was appointed Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Air India in 2022 on a five-year contract, with his tenure set to run until July 2027.
Safety lapses
The leadership change comes as the airline faces reprimand over serious safety lapses, including operating an aircraft eight times without a valid airworthiness certificate and flying planes without checking emergency equipment.
He is currently serving his notice period to the company, according to the report.
Mint also added that it couldn’t ascertain if Tata Group, its majority owner, has found his successor.
Wilson’s resignation was accepted at a board meeting last week but he will stay on with the company until a successor is found, the Hindustan Times reported, citing four people familiar with the matter.
Served as CEO of Scoot earlier
Before Air India, Wilson served as the CEO of Scoot, the wholly-owned low-cost subsidiary of Singapore Airlines (SIA).
He then served as the Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at SIA, where he managed the pricing, distribution, eCommerce, merchandising, Brand and marketing, Global sales, and the airline’s overseas offices.
Air India is chaired by N. Chandrasekaran, who is also the chair of Tata Group. Singapore Airlines holds a 25 per cent stake in Air India.
Air India in December admitted there was a “need for urgent improvements in process discipline, communication, and compliance culture,” according to news agency Reuters.
In January, the news agency reported that Air India’s board was scouting for a new CEO to replace Wilson.
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