Key role for Wake as Ethiopian hunts new CEO

The former Ethiopian CEO and aviation industry doyen, Girma Wake, has been named in a key role as the Addis Ababa carrier reels from the sad resignation of its CEO Tewolde Gabremariam.

Girma Wake. Leading the hunt for a successor as to Gabremariam at Ethiopian.

Wake -well known for leading airlines in Africa and the Middle East - was the CEO that began the transformation of Ethiopian and mentored Tewolde to take on the key role when he retired.

He was named today as President in addition to his existing role as Board Chairman in a move to bring familiarity and stability to the airline after its CEO resigned and took early retirement due to ill health. Wake is tasked with finding the successor to GabreMariam.

Tewolde is currently receiving treatment in the United States. The airline praised him for the magnificent work he had done growing the airline group fourfold during his tenure.

In a statement the airline wished the CEO well and hoped for a speedy recovery.

Wake joined Ethiopian in 1960 but traveled to work with other airlines including Gulf Air where he headed the cargo business before being invited back to Addis in 2003, aged 60, to become CEO of Ethiopian. A role he continued until 2011 when he handed over to his deputy Gabremariam.

Wake also served as chairman to the ambitious and growing Rwandair until 2017.

Alan Peaford

Alan Peaford MBE

Alan is a regular broadcaster and is the consultant editor-in-chief and presenter for Times Aerospace TV and is a regular commentator on aviation issues for many global broadcasting channels. He is conference chairman of the Aviation Africa summit and the Aviation MENA summit and has moderated or chaired conferences for organisations such as IATA, DCAA, the Global Aerospace Summit and business aviation associations in the Middle East, Africa and Europe.

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