New Private Management Appoints Industry Veteran Tewolde GebreMariam to Drive PIA’s Financial Recovery
KARACHI (JULY 2026) – Following its recent privatization, the new management of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has appointed renowned aviation leader Tewolde GebreMariam as Chief Executive Officer (CEO). GebreMariam, highly celebrated for transforming Ethiopian Airlines into Africa’s largest and most profitable carrier, brings over 30 years of global industry experience to lead PIA’s revival.
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During his tenure as Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines (2011–2022), GebreMariam grew annual revenues from $1 billion to $4.5 billion, expanded the fleet from 33 to 130 aircraft, and boosted passenger volume from 3 million to 12 million. He also successfully steered the airline through the COVID-19 crisis by pivoting quickly to cargo operations.
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An alumnus of Addis Ababa University (BA in Economics, Honorary Doctorate) and the UK’s Open University (MBA), GebreMariam has served on prestigious global bodies like the IATA Board of Governors and the United Nations Sustainable Transport Advisory Group. His accolades include ‘African CEO of the Year’, the ‘Airline Strategy Award’, and Brazil’s highest civilian honor, the ‘Order of Rio Branco’.
Before joining PIA, GebreMariam served as a Senior Strategic Advisor for Delta Air Lines. With his proven track record in financial restructuring and international network expansion, stakeholders are highly optimistic that GebreMariam will turn PIA back into a profitable and globally competitive airline.
