Tatas pick Scoot boss Campbell Wilson as Air India CEO

Campbell Wilson, the founding CEO of low-cost airline Scoot, was named MD and CEO of Air India by Tata Sons on May 12.

Wilson, 50, has 26 years of experience in the aviation industry, working for both full-service and low-cost carriers. He has spent over 15 years working for the Singapore Airlines group in countries such as Japan, Canada, and Hong Kong. In 1996, he began his career with SIA as a Management Trainee in New Zealand. Notably, SIA is a partner in Vistara, a Tata-owned airline.

He then worked for SIA in Canada, Hong Kong, and Japan before returning to Singapore in 2011 as the founding CEO of Scoot, Singapore Airlines’ fully-owned subsidiary, which he led until 2016. He then worked as SIA’s Senior Vice President (Sales and Marketing), where he was in charge of pricing, distribution, e-commerce, merchandising, brand and marketing, global sales, and the airline’s overseas offices, before returning to Scoot in April 2020 for a second stint as CEO.

Wilson has a Master of Commerce (1st Class Honours) in Business Administration from New Zealand’s University of Canterbury.

The Tatas initially appointed Turkish Airlines CEO Ilker Ayci as CEO of Air India, but he declined the offer on March 1.

“I am delighted to welcome Campbell to Air India,” said N Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Air India, in response to the appointment. He is a seasoned industry professional who has worked in key global markets across multiple functions. Furthermore, Air India would benefit from his additional experience in developing an airline brand in Asia. I’m excited to work with him to build a world-class airline.”

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“It is an honour to be selected to lead the iconic Air India and be a part of the highly respected Tata Group,” Campbell Wilson said on the occasion. Air India is on the verge of becoming one of the world’s best airlines, offering world-class products and services with a distinct customer experience that reflects Indian warmth and hospitality. I am thrilled to be joining Air India and Tata colleagues in the mission to realize that goal.