Take criticism objectively: Tata Group chief to Air India workers after CEO's exit

As Air India begins the search for a new CEO after the resignation of Campbell Wilson, Tata Group chairman N Chandrasekaran has sought to steady nerves within the airline, urging employees to stay focused on result-oriented execution and not get upset by criticism.

Addressing staff and top management days after Wilson’s exit amid multiple headwinds, Chandrasekaran acknowledged that the airline is “going through a challenging phase” but emphasised that its long-term prospects remain strong.

“Take pride in what is being done, feel proud of yourself, don’t get distracted. Criticism will always be there but take it objectively. Don’t get upset; there is no progress without criticism. If the core message of the criticism is justified, fix it,” he told the employees.

Since Tata Group reacquired Air India in 2022, the airline has embarked on an ambitious turnaround strategy encompassing fleet modernisation, mergers, and global expansion. However, the transformation journey has been accompanied by persistent challenges, including financial pressures, regulatory scrutiny over safety and crew fatigue violations, and operational bottlenecks. Most notably, the Ahmedabad air crash continues to cast a long shadow over the airline, intensifying scrutiny of its safety practices.

Chandrasekaran stressed that the immediate priority must be disciplined execution.

“Our focus should be on what is within our control, where we can improve, be precise on costs and remain grounded in the reality of the situation,” the Tata Group Chairman advised staff.

Reiterating the airline’s core principle, he underscored that safety remains non-negotiable and central to every decision across operations, engineering, training, and customer experience.

Describing the past four years under Tata Group ownership as “incredible,” Chandrasekaran said Air India has now reached a critical phase in its transformation. The airline has onboarded over 17,000 employees, consolidated four airlines into two, modernised core systems, expanded its fleet, undertaken extensive aircraft refurbishment, and improved network efficiency and customer experience metrics, including Net Promoter Scores.

The Tata Group chairman’s address comes days after Wilson stepped down as CEO and Managing Director after a four-year tenure marked by both transformation efforts and significant challenges. The Air India board has constituted a committee to identify his successor in the coming months.

Wilson had faced sustained criticism since the June 12 Ahmedabad crash involving a London-bound flight shortly after takeoff, which claimed 241 lives, as well as over regulatory lapses. Chandrasekaran, while acknowledging the difficulties, had earlier credited Wilson for driving progress across several fronts during his tenure.

Meanwhile, Air India Express, the airline’s low-cost subsidiary, has also been without a head since March 19 following the exit of Managing Director Aloke Singh after completing his five-year term.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which is probing the Ahmedabad crash, has submitted its preliminary findings, with the final report expected in June.

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