# New Air India CEO Welcomed As Chandrasekaran Says Winning Passengers' Trust Is Top Priority > Tata Sons chairman N. Chandrasekaran told Air India staff that safety and cost discipline must define the airline's next phase, while formally introducing new CEO Tevolde Gebriam to the workforce. **Type:** article · **Category:** Business · **Published:** 2026-09-07 · **Source:** TrendKia **Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/business/nae-siio-tevolde-gebriam-ke-svagata-men-chandrasekaran-bole-yatriyon-ka-vishvasa-jitana-sabase-bari-prathamikata-28951 · **Language:** English **Tags:** Air India, N. Chandrasekaran, Tevolde Gebriam, Tata Sons, Campbell Wilson, Airline Safety, Singapore Airlines Air India employees gathered for a special town hall on Monday, where Tata Sons chairman N. Chandrasekaran addressed the workforce with a clear message on safety and financial discipline. The meeting also brought together the airline's newly appointed CEO Tevolde Gebriam and outgoing CEO Campbell Wilson. ## Winning Passenger Trust Is The Top Priority Chandrasekaran told employees that Air India's next phase needs to rest on four pillars, safety, customer trust, running operations more smoothly, and financial discipline. He put it plainly: "The most important thing Air India should try to achieve is people's trust." The remark was a reminder to staff that the airline's future depends less on numbers or profit margins and more on the everyday trust of its passengers, which is why he placed it above the other three priorities. ## Safety Standards Must Go Beyond The Industry's Best The chairman said the airline's safety record has to move beyond even the best standards in the industry, meaning simply matching competitors is not enough. He also urged staff to work together to build a strong, lasting culture of cost control so the airline stays financially sustainable over the long run and can absorb sudden shocks better. ## Why The Past 18 Months Have Been Tough Chandrasekaran openly acknowledged that the last 18 months had been especially difficult for the company. Geopolitical developments in West Asia repeatedly forced airspace closures, jet fuel prices, or ATF, rose sharply, and the AI171 crash also dealt the airline a heavy blow. Together, these events directly affected day-to-day operations and overall performance, which is part of why the company is now placing safety and trust above everything else. ## New CEO Formally Introduced, Brings Four Decades Of Experience At the same town hall, Chandrasekaran formally introduced Gebriam to the workforce. Air India had said that Gebriam was handed charge of the company, as CEO and Managing Director, on August 5, following an extensive selection process. A dedicated board committee oversaw the entire process. Gebriam has spent close to four decades with the Ethiopian Airlines Group, where he served as its CEO for more than 11 years. Given that depth of experience, his appointment is being seen as a significant step for Air India. ## Tata Group Bought Air India In 2022, Singapore Airlines Also Holds A Stake The Tata Group took over Air India from the government in January 2022 and has been rebuilding the carrier ever since. Singapore Airlines later acquired a 25.1 percent stake in the airline. Air India's official social media account said employees at the town hall welcomed new CEO Gebriam in Chandrasekaran's presence, with outgoing CEO Campbell Wilson also present on the occasion, calling it the start of the next chapter in the airline's transformation journey. ## What this means for you If you fly Air India, this renewed focus on safety and trust could directly shape your booking and travel experience in the months ahead. - **For passengers:** The airline is talking about tightening safety standards further, so travellers could see stricter protocols around booking, check-in and in-flight procedures in the coming months, an attempt to rebuild trust after a string of incidents. - **On fares:** A push for stronger cost discipline means the airline will look for ways to cut expenses, which could eventually influence ticket prices or route planning. - **For employees:** New CEO Tevolde Gebriam's arrival could bring changes to internal policies and working methods, given his nearly four decades of experience running a large organisation like Ethiopian Airlines. - **For investors and partners:** This leadership change matters both for the Tata Group and for Singapore Airlines, which holds a 25.1 percent stake, since the airline's performance is directly tied to their business interests. ## Questions & Answers ### 1. Who is Air India's new CEO? Tevolde Gebriam has been made Air India's new CEO and Managing Director. ### 2. When was Gebriam's appointment announced? Air India said the appointment, made after an extensive selection process, took effect on August 5. ### 3. What experience does Gebriam bring? He has close to four decades of experience with the Ethiopian Airlines Group and served as its CEO for more than 11 years. ### 4. Who attended the town hall meeting? Chairman N. Chandrasekaran, new CEO Tevolde Gebriam and outgoing CEO Campbell Wilson were all present. ### 5. What did Chandrasekaran emphasise? He stressed safety, customer trust, smoother operations and stronger financial discipline. ### 6. Why have the last 18 months been difficult for the airline? Geopolitical developments in West Asia, airspace closures, sharply higher ATF prices and the AI171 crash all affected operations. ### 7. When did the Tata Group buy Air India? The Tata Group acquired Air India from the government in January 2022. ### 8. What stake does Singapore Airlines hold in Air India? Singapore Airlines holds a 25.1 percent stake in Air India. --- _TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.. Machine-readable view; canonical HTML at the URL above._