Tata Sons on Monday said former chairman of Turkish Airlines Ilker Ayci has been appointed the CEO and MD of Air India. His appointment is subject to requisite regulatory approvals, Tata Sons said in a statement.
"The Air India Board met to consider the candidature of Ayci. N Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons, was a special invitee to this board meeting," the release said. "The board after due deliberations approved the appointment of Ilker Ayci as the CEO & MD of Air India," it said.
He will assume his responsibilities on or before April 1, 2022, according to the statement.
N Chandrasekaran, chairman of Tata Sons, said that Ilker is an aviation industry leader who led Turkish Airlines to its current success during his tenure there. "We are delighted to welcome Ilker to the Tata Group where he would lead Air India into the new era," he said.
Ayci was born in Istanbul in 1971. He is 1994 alumni of Bilkent University's Department of Politics Science and Public Administration. After a research stay on political science at the Leeds University in the UK in 1995, he completed an International Relations Master's programme at the Marmara University in Istanbul in 1997.
Ayci, 51, said that he is delighted and honoured to accept the privilege of leading an iconic airline and to join the Tata Group.
"Working closely with my colleagues at Air India and the leadership of the Tata Group, we will utilize the strong heritage of Air India to make it one of the best airlines in the world with a uniquely superior flying experience that reflects Indian warmth and hospitality," he said.
Tata Group last month took over Air India and vowed to turn the loss-making carrier, it had founded but had lost control nearly seven decades back, into a world-class airline. For Tatas, Air India is the third airline. It already operates Vistara in a joint venture with Singapore Airlines and AirAsia India in partnership with AirAsia Group.
Tatas took over Rs 15,300 crore of debt in Air India and Air India Express Ltd while the remaining Rs 46,262 crore loan plus an outstanding of about Rs 15,000 crore towards unpaid fuel bills were paid off by the government.
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