Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran has established an interim management committee to lead Air India following the departure of CEO Campbell Wilson, who stepped down earlier this year. The committee includes Chandrasekaran himself, former Air India CMD Pradeep Singh Kharola, and other senior executives. This arrangement will remain in place until a new CEO is appointed, according to livemint.com.
Campbell Wilson had been at the helm of Air India since 2022 before stepping down in April, as announced by Tata Sons. In response, Chandrasekaran took direct control by forming the interim committee to oversee the airline's operations. Pradeep Singh Kharola, who served as Air India's Chairman and Managing Director from 2017 to 2019, brings prior leadership experience to the committee, aiding the transition period while the search for Wilson's successor continues.
This move comes amid Tata Sons' broader efforts to stabilize and grow Air India after its acquisition. The interim committee aims to maintain operational continuity and strategic focus during the leadership gap. Air India's leadership changes reflect the challenges in the competitive Indian aviation sector, where Tata Sons has invested heavily to revive the airline. The involvement of senior executives and a former CMD signals a hands-on approach to governance during this critical phase.
The interim committee will manage Air India until a new CEO is appointed, with the search ongoing as of July 2026. The committee's formation was reported on July 9, 2026, marking a key step in the airline's leadership transition under Tata Sons' ownership.