Mesfin Tasew, Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, is expected to retire in 2026, two years after his initially scheduled departure date.

Mesfin was originally due to step down in 2023 but extended his tenure at the request of the airline’s board, amid efforts to maintain continuity during a period of economic uncertainty and operational expansion.

He was appointed as Group CEO in March 2022, following the early retirement of longtime chief Tewolde GebreMariam. Before taking the helm, Mesfin served as Chief Operating Officer of the airline for more than a decade, and briefly led ASKY Airlines, a regional carrier affiliated with Ethiopian.

Mesfin joined Ethiopian Airlines in 1984 as an avionics engineer. Over the following decades, he held senior roles across engineering, IT, and operations, contributing to the airline’s evolution into Africa’s leading carrier. He holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Addis Ababa University and an MBA from the Open University in the United Kingdom. He also sits on the Board of Governors of the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Under his leadership, Ethiopian Airlines expanded its international network and modernized its fleet while navigating economic headwinds, including a shift to a market-based foreign exchange. Despite these challenges, the airline reported a 20% profit increase in the most recent fiscal year.