Ilker Ayci Turns Down Tata Sons’ Offer To Be New Air India MD & CEO

Ilker Ayci has declined the Tata Group’s offer to be the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director of Air India. Ayci's appointment to helm Air India was confirmed by Tata Sons on Feb. 14, and he was to join the airline on or before April 1

New Delhi: Former Turkish Airlines Chairman Ilker Ayci has declined Tata Sons’ offer to be the new chief executive officer of Air India, according to reports in news agency PTI. On February 14, Tata Sons had announced the appointment of Ayci, former chairman of Turkish Airlines, as the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Air India.

Ayci, who was appointed to lead the loss-making national carrier by its new owners, said his appointment to the position was ‘coloured’ by Indian media, Bloomberg reported citing an emailed press release.

“I have come to the conclusion that it would not be a feasible or an honourable decision to accept the position in the shadow of such a narrative,” Ayci said in a statement seen by Bloomberg.

RSS-affiliate Swadeshi Jagran Manch had last Friday said the government should not give clearance to the appointment of Ilker Ayci the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Air India “keeping in view national security”.

SJM’s co-convenor Ashwani Mahajan had said the government is “already sensitive” to the issue and has taken up the matter “very seriously”.

When asked for the reasons why the SJM is opposed to the newly appointed CEO and MD, Mahajan had reiterated that it’s a matter of national security.

“After all, decisions are taken about a person based on his relationships,” he had said.

(With PTI inputs)