Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam who has been under medical treatment in the Untired Sates for the last six months, has announced his early retirement.
Owned fully by the Government of Ethiopia, the Group is expected to announce the new CEO in the coming days. “As he needs to focus on his personal health issues, he is unable to continue leading the airline as a Group CEO, a duty which demands closer presence and full attention round the clock. Accordingly, Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam requested the Board of Management of Ethiopian Airlines Group, for early retirement in order for him to focus his full attention to his medical treatment,” Ethiopian Airlines said in its press statement.
The statement noted that the Board, in its ordinary meeting held on Wednesday, March 23, 2022, has accepted Mr. Tewolde’s request for early retirement.
Mr. Tewolde as one of the best CEOs in Africa, led the Airline for over a decade with remarkable success. The achievement of Ethiopian Airlines is reflected in its exceptional performance “in all parameters including but not limited to exponential growth from one Billion USD annual turn-over to 4.5 Billion, from 33 airplanes to 130 airplanes and from 3 million passengers to 12 million passengers (pre-COVID).,” according to the statement from Ethiopian Airlines.
Under his leadership, the airline group has grown by four fold in all measurements building more than USD 700 million worth of vital infrastructure like Africa’s biggest hotel, Cargo terminal, MRO hangars and shops, Aviation Academy and Full Flight Simulators. The Board, the Senior Management, employees and the whole Ethiopian Airlines family express their gratefulness for his contribution and wish him full recovery soon.
The Board will announce the new Group CEO and successor to Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam shortly. Mr. Girma Wake, former CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, has been appointed recently as a new Chairman of the Board of Management of Ethiopian Airlines Group by the Ethiopian Public Enterprises Holding & Administration Agency.
Mr. Girma Wake is a highly experienced, successful and well-regarded business leader and a well-known figure in the aviation industry who previously led Ethiopian Airlines for 7 years as a CEO and laid the foundation for the fast and profitable growth of the airline.
The statement stated that the combination of his experience, work-culture and drive makes him capable of chairing the board and take the airline to the next level. Mr. Girma’s decision-making skills are tested and well proved.
Former U.S Vice President Richard Nixon visiting Ethiopian Airlines back in 1957. #ThrowbackThursday #Backinthedays pic.twitter.com/CbRvGZlRI0
— Ethiopian Airlines (@flyethiopian) March 10, 2022