Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - Ethiopian Airlines announces early retirement of its Group CEO Tewolde GebreMariam.
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Tewolde GebreMariam has been under medical treatment in the USA for the last six months.
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. 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.
The Board, in its ordinary meeting held on Wednesday, March 23, 2022, has accepted Mr. GebreMariam’s request for early retirement.
Mr. GebreMariam led the Airline for over a decade with remarkable success 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).
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.
Mr. GebreMariam was appointed as Group Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines in January 2011.
He began his career at Ethiopian in 1985 as Transportation Agent and has held a number of senior leadership positions in different divisions in the Airline including; Ethiopian Cargo, Area Offices and Sales & Marketing.
Mr. GebreMariam also serves as a member of the High-Level Advisory Group on Sustainable Transport with United Nations, Chief Executive Board member of Star Alliance, Board member of International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Airlink Advisory Council.
Additionally, he is an Executive Committee member of the African Airlines Association (AFRAA), a member of Board of Directors of Africa Travel Association (ATA) and Board of Directors of Ethiopian Tourism Organization (ETO).
He earned his B.A. Degree in Economics from the Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia and his Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the Open University in the United Kingdom.
He has received Honorary Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters Honoris Causa from Addis Ababa University on 13 July 2019.
The Board will announce the new Group CEO and successor to Ato Tewolde GebreMariam shortly.
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. ■