Ethiopian Airlines has announced a new Group CEO after the early retirement of its Group CEO, Tewolde GebreMariam citing health reasons.

In a statement, Ethiopian said GebreMariam has been under medical treatment for the last six months.

 Tewolde GebreMariam, former Group CEO (left) and Mesfin Tasew Bekele, new Ethiopian Group CEO (right).

"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," the African carrier said, adding that GebreMariam requested the Board for early retirement in order for him to focus his full attention to his medical treatment.

The Board accepted his request on March 23 — thanking Tewolde for leading the airline for over a decade and seeing through exponential growth from US$1 billion annual turn-over to US$4.5 billion, from 33 airplanes to 130 airplanes and from three million passengers to 12 million passengers.

Ethiopian also appointed Girma Wake, former CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, as new Chairman of the Board of Management of Ethiopian Airlines Group by the Ethiopian Public Enterprises Holding & Administration Agency. 

New CEO announced

Separately, Ethiopian announced that its Board has appointed Mesfin Tasew Bekele, as the new chief executive officer of Ethiopian Airlines Group, effective March 23.

Mesfin has 38 years of experience in airline management and operations in the areas of aircraft maintenance and engineering, procurement, information technology, flight operations, capability development, capacity building, development of corporate strategies, airline operation management, and corporate leadership. 

Until this new appointment, Mesfin has served as a chief operating officer of Ethiopian Airlines from 2010 to 2021.