Tata Sons, holding company and promoter of Tata group of companies, said Ilker Ayci has been appointed the CEO & MD of Air India.

 

The appointment was cleared in an Air India board meeting, also attended by Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran, held on Monday afternoon.

 

“The board after due deliberations approved the appointment of Mr. Ilker Ayci as the CEO & MD of Air India. This appointment is subject to requisite regulatory approvals,” said Tata Sons in a statement.

 

Until very recently, Ayci, was the Chairman of Turkish Airlines and he was on the board of the company prior to that.

 

N Chandrasekaran, said, “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.”

 

Ilker Ayci was born in Istanbul in 1971. He is 1994 alumni of Bilkent University’s Department of Political 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 program at the Marmara University in Istanbul in 1997.

 

On this occasion, Ayci, said, “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.”

 

Ayci will assume the role of Air India MD & CEO on or before April 1, 2022, the statement added.