Tata Sons appointed Ilker Ayci as the new CEO and MD of Air India, the new addition to the Tata group. Here’s all you need to know about him.
Who is Ilker Ayci, the new Air India CEO?
On February 14, Tata Sons appointed Ilker Ayci as the new CEO and MD of Air India. The fifty-one-year-old graduated from the Department of Political Science and Public Administration at Bilkent University in 1994. He was a researcher of political science at Leeds University. He later finished his Masters’s in International Relations from Marmara University in Istanbul. Until recently Ayci was the chairman of Turkish Airlines since 2015. However, he resigned from the position at the end of January. According to the Wall Street Journal, he is also a member of the US-Turkey Business Council and the Canadian Turkish Business Council. Additionally, Ayci is also a board member of the Turkish Airlines Sports Club, Turkish Football Federation, and TFF Sportif Anonim Sirketi.
The Air India board met to consider Ayci. He will be assuming his new responsibilities as the MD and CEO by April 1, 2022. N Chandrasekaran, the Chairman of Tata Sons was a special invitee for the meeting. After due deliberations, they approved his candidature. “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 will lead Air India into the new era,” said Chandrasekaran.
A new era for Air India
Ilker Ayci is famous for both leadership and management skills. The board believes that he is the face of a new era for the airline company. He is also behind the pre-pandemic global rise of Turkish airlines in the aviation industry. “I am delighted and honored 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,” said Ilker Ayci on asking about his new appointment.