Ilker Ayci, the former chairman of Turkish Airlines, will now serve as the new CEO of Air India

Ilker Ayci, the former CEO and managing director of Turkish Airlines, has been named CEO and managing director of Air India. Tata Sons, which bought Air India last month, said on Monday that the airline's board of directors met in the afternoon to consider Ayci's candidacy and chose him.

On or before April 1, 2022, Ayci is anticipated to take over.

On being appointed the CEO and MD of Air India, Ayci said, "I am delighted and honoured to accept the privilege of leading an iconic airline and to join the Tata Group. Working closely with my colleagues at Air India and the leadership of the Tata Group, we will utilise the strong heritage of Air India to make it one of the best airlines in the world with a uniquely superior flying experience that reflects Indian warmth and hospitality.

Tata Sons stated in a statement that chairman N Chandrasekaran was a special invitee to the meeting, and that the board approved Ayci's appointment after appropriate thought.

"This appointment is subject to requisite regulatory approvals," a Tata Sons spokesperson said. "Until very recently, Mr. Ilker Ayci was the chairman of Turkish Airlines, and he was on the board of the company prior to that."

Chandrasekaran said, "Ilker is an aviation industry leader who led Turkish Airlines to its current success during his tenure there. We are delighted to welcome Ilker to the Tata Group where he will lead Air India into the new era."

In the year 1971, Ayci was born in Istanbul, Turkey. In 1994, he earned a bachelor's degree in political science and public administration from Bilkent University. He completed an international relations master's degree at Marmara University in Istanbul in 1997, following a research stint in political science at Leeds University in the United Kingdom in 1995.