03 – 24 – 2022
Ethiopian Airlines, Addis Ababa – Ethiopia
The Board of Management of Ethiopian Airlines Group has announced the appointment of Mr. Mesfin Tasew Bekele, as Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines Group, effective March 23, 2022. Mr Mesfin has been a successor to the former CEO of the Airline group, Tewolde GebreMariam whose early retirement request due to health issues has been approved by the board.
The ‘one day old’ board rushed to appoint Mr. Mesfin who is one year senior than the long serving CEO record holder in the airline’s history. The reason for the retiring CEO Mr. Tewolde was justified for personal health issues.
In the memo sent to Aiga Ethiopian Airlines mentioned, “Mr. 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. He earned Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from Open University in the UK, MSc degree in Electrical Engineering specializing in Communications Engineering from Addis Ababa University, and BSc degree in Electrical Engineering from Addis Ababa University.”
The Board Chairman of the airline, Mr. Girma Wake joined the airline in 1968. He lead the airline as CEO for 7 years until he retires in 2011. Mr. Girma Wake who is likable by the airline employees is expected to fill the gap from the hardworking CEO who retired recently.
Mr. Girma Wake said, “I would like to congratulate Mr Mesfin on his new appointment and I am fully confident about his capabilities. We believe that Mr Mesfin will lead the airline to an even greater success, keeping it on the right track that will see it grow through many generations to come. I urge the 17,000 employees of Ethiopian and the board members
to stand with the new Group CEO to keep the airline fly high. We are also thankful for the remarkable
contributions of the former Group CEO.”
Mr Mesfin Tassew on his part said, “I am honored and humbled to be appointed as the Chief
Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines Group which I have been serving for nearly four decades in
various positions. My new role gives me the opportunity to carry on with the fast and profitable growth
of our beloved airline and take it to the next level. I call on all my colleagues at Ethiopian to join hands
and forge ahead for further success.”