New Delhi: Campbell Wilson has been appointed the new CEO and MD of Air India. Tata Sons on Thursday announced his appointment.
Wilson, who was until recently the CEO of Scoot, a low-cost subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, has 26 years of aviation industry expertise across both full service and low-cost airlines.
Commenting on the appointment, N Chandrasekaran, chairman, Air India said in a statement, “I am delighted to welcome Campbell to Air India He is an industry veteran having worked in key global markets cutting across multiple functions. Further, Air India would benefit from his added experience of having built an airline brand in Asia. I look forward to working with him in building a world-class airline.”
The Air India board approved the appointment of Wilson (50) subject to requisite regulatory approvals, the company said in a statement.
Campbell Wilson in the statement said, “Air India is at the cusp of an exciting journey become one of the best airlines in the world, offering world-class products and services with a distinct customer experience that reflects Indian warmth and hospitality. I am excited to join Air India and Tata colleagues in the mission of realising that ambition.”
Campbell started off as a management trainee with SIA in New Zealand in 1996. He then worked for SIA in Canada, Hong Kong, and Japan before returning to Singapore in 2011 as the founding CEO of Scoot, which he led until 2016.
Wilson then served as the senior vice-president sales & marketing of SIA, where he oversaw pricing, distribution, e-commerce, merchandising, brand and marketing, global sales and the airline’s overseas offices, before returning for a second stint as the CEO of Scoot in April 2020.
Earlier in February this year, Tata Sons had announced the appointment of former chairman of Turkish Airlines Ilker Ayci as the CEO and MD of Air India. However, he declined to take up the position amid controversies over his views related to India.
Tata Group took over Air India from the government on January 27 after a competitive bidding process.