tata sons: Amid controversy, Turk declines AI CEO offer | India News – Times of India
NEW DELHI/MUMBAI: Former Turkish Airlines chairman Ilker Ayci (51) has declined the position of Air India MD & CEO, forcing Tata Sons to restart the process of searching for a CEO – a pivotal step in its bid to turn around the loss-making carrier.
Tata Sons is expected to name a new CEO in the coming days. Whether it is someone previously shortlisted remains to be seen. Till then, Tata Sons and four board members of the carrier will run operations.
Ayci said that he declined the role after reading about attempts “to colour my appointment with undesirable colours” in some sections of the Indian media. “It would not be a feasible or an honourable decision to accept the position in the shadow of such narrative… At a meeting with Tata Group chairman (N) Chandrasekaran, I regretfully informed him that I will decline the position,” Ayci said.
Last week, RSS-backed Swadeshi Jagran Manch had opposed security clearance for Ayci, citing his political links to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who doesn’t have cordial relations with New Delhi. The regulatory approval of the Centre is mandatory for a person to helm an Indian airline.
Tata Sons is expected to name a new CEO in the coming days. Whether it is someone previously shortlisted remains to be seen. Till then, Tata Sons and four board members of the carrier will run operations.
Ayci said that he declined the role after reading about attempts “to colour my appointment with undesirable colours” in some sections of the Indian media. “It would not be a feasible or an honourable decision to accept the position in the shadow of such narrative… At a meeting with Tata Group chairman (N) Chandrasekaran, I regretfully informed him that I will decline the position,” Ayci said.
Last week, RSS-backed Swadeshi Jagran Manch had opposed security clearance for Ayci, citing his political links to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who doesn’t have cordial relations with New Delhi. The regulatory approval of the Centre is mandatory for a person to helm an Indian airline.
