Suspense around regulatory sign-off for Tata's pick for Air India CEO
India Today
In a press statement on February 14, Tata Sons said the board had met on the day and considered Ilker Ayci's candidature.
Suspense continues to surround the appointment of the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director (MD) of Air India, Ilker Ayci. Since the announcement by Tata Sons, the airline's new owners, confusion has abounded over the requisite regulatory approvals signing off on the appointment.
51-year-old Turkish national, Ilker Ayci was the former chairman of Turkish Airlines. He helmed the airline between 2015 and January 2022, when he stepped down from his position.
Prior to this, he steered several insurance companies and was also the President of the Investment Support and Promotion Agency of Turkey (ISPAT) between 2011 and 2013.
In a press statement on February 14, Tata Sons said the board had met on the day and considered Ilker Ayci's candidature. Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran was a special invitee to this board meeting.
The statement read, "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."
Since then there has been pin-drop silence on the approvals from the government.
On February 20, news agency PTI reported that the Ministry of Home Affairs will "scrupulously" carry out a thorough background check of the newly appointed CEO and MD of Air India, who is likely to take charge before or on 1 April, 2022.
