The Business Bytes
TBB BUREAU
MUMBAI, FEBRUARY 14, 2022
Tata Sons on Monday announced the appointment of former chairman of Turkish Airlines Ilker Ayci as the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Air India.
The Air India board approved the appointment of Ayci as the CEO & MD of Air India this afternoon, Tata Sons said in a statement.
Ayci will assume his new responsibilities on or before April 1 this year, it said.
The statement also added that Ayci’s appointment to the new position is subject to requisite regulatory approvals.
Tatas regained ownership of Air India late last month, nearly seven decades after it lost control to the government.
“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,” said Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran who was a special invitee to this board meeting.
A 1994 alumni of Bilkent University, Ayci completed a Master’s Programme in International Relations from Istanbul’s Marmara University in 1997.
“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 Ayci.
After a competitive bidding process, the government had on October 8 last year sold Air India to Talace Private Limited, a subsidiary of the Tata Group’s holding company, for Rs 18,000 crore.
