Pradeep Singh Kharola Named Executive Advisor to Air India Chairman
Why in the news
Air India announced on 24-25 June 2026 that Pradeep Singh Kharola was rejoining the airline as Executive Advisor to Chairman N. Chandrasekaran, effective immediately, as it prepared for a change at the top.
Key facts
- Appointee: Pradeep Singh Kharola, a 1985-batch IAS officer and former Civil Aviation Secretary.
- Role: Executive Advisor to the Chairman, N. Chandrasekaran, and a full-time member of the Air India Management Committee.
- Earlier stint: Air India Chairman and Managing Director from 2017 to 2019.
- Context: CEO Campbell Wilson has announced his departure, and Kharola is expected to help with the transition.
About the Air India leadership
Air India is led by Chairman N. Chandrasekaran, with Campbell Wilson as CEO. Wilson has announced that he is leaving, and Kharola, a former Civil Aviation Secretary, returns to the airline to support the change of leadership.
Exam angle
- Appointments are asked as person, post and organisation: Kharola, Executive Advisor, Air India.
- Remember the chairman’s name: N. Chandrasekaran.
- Kharola’s earlier tenure as CMD was 2017-2019.