Ilker Ayci turns down Tata Sons’ offer to be new Air India CEO


Ilker Ayci has turned down the offer of Tata Sons to be the new Air India CEO.

Ilker Ayci

Ilker Ayci has turned down Tata Sons’ offer to be new Air India CEO. (Photo: Getty)

Ilker Ayci has declined the offer of Tata Sons to be the new Air India Chief executive officer (CEO). Tata Sons had appointed Ilker Ayci as the CEO and Managing Director (MD) of Air India and he was supposed to assume his responsibilities on or before April 1, 2022.

Since the announcement by Tata Sons, the airline’s new owners, confusion has abounded about the requisite regulatory approvals signing off on the appointment of Ilker Ayci.

FORMER CHAIRMAN OF TURKISH AIRLINES

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.

REGULATORY APPROVALS

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.

WHY THIS IS NECESSARY

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 April 1, 2022.

The report added, “The Home Ministry carries out a thorough background check of all foreign nationals when they are appointed in the key positions of any Indian company.”


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