Former Turkish Airlines Chairman Ilker Ayci has declined Tata Sons’ offer to head Air India as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), announcing “news in some sections of the Indian media trying to shade my appointment with undesirable colours”.
WHO IS ILKER AYCI
Mehmet İlker Aycı is a Turkish businessperson. Aycı was the advisor of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in 1994 and served as the CEO of countless Turkish organizations earlier than becoming the chairman of Turkish Airlines from 2015 to 2022.
“As a enterprise leader who has constantly prioritised professional credo … I have come to the conclusion that it would now not be a viable or an honorable choice to accept the role in the shadow of such narrative,” he stated in a statement.
“Since the announcement, I have been carefully following news in some sections of the Indian media attempting to shade my appointment with undesirable colors,” Ayci said in a statement.
“As a commercial enterprise chief who has usually prioritized professional credo and greater importantly, the happiness and nicely being of my family above all else, I have come to the conclusion that it would not be a feasible or an honourable decision to accept the role in the shadow of such narrative,” he added.
Ayci stated he remains grateful to the Tata Group and its chairman N Chadrasekaran for extending to him the honour and the chance to lead Air India.
“However, at a recent meeting with Mr Chadrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Group, I regretfully informed him and I want to inform the public, as well, that I will decline the position,” he said.
Ayci stated he has taken this selection with a heavy heart, and he wishes Air India and the Tata Group every success.
“I will continue my career by pursuing choice possibilities with the goal of developing value and constructing world type businesses,” he said.
Tata Sons did now not reply to PTI’s request for a announcement on Ayci’s decision.
Salt-to-software conglomerate Tata Group had on October 8 final 12 months won the bid to acquire debt-laden state-run Air India by providing Rs 18,000 crore for it.
Swadeshi Jagran Manch’s co-convenor Ashwani Mahajan had told PTI last Friday, “We sense that government not give its permission (to Ayci’s appointment) maintaining in view national security.”
“I suppose the authorities is already touchy to the issue and has taken up the matter very seriously. I don’t suppose the authorities will approve it,” he added.
When asked for the reasons why his employer is adversarial to the newly appointed CEO and MD, Mahajan had reiterated that it is a count number of national security. “After all, selections are taken about a character based on his relationships,” he had said.
Ayci, 51, led Turkey’s flag provider for six years from 2015. Turkish Airlines struggled at some point of the first 12 months of the pandemic as air journey slumped however recovered by means of reducing team of workers charges and taking advantage of a booming freight business. Under Ayci’s management, Turkish Airlines moved to its new hub in Istanbul, which is set to be the world’s largest airport when completely finished in 2023.
