By Staff Writer
(Nairobi, Kenya) — The Board of Directors of Zambia Airways has announced the appointment of Ethiopian aviation executive Aman Wole Gurmu as Chief Executive Officer, effective August 1, 2026.
Aman transitions to the Lusaka-based national flag carrier directly from the Ethiopian Airlines Group, where he spent over 19 years in executive leadership, commercial strategy, market development, and strategic international partnerships across Africa, Europe, and Asia.
Aman’s career within Ethiopian Airlines includes high-level postings as Regional Director for Mainland China and Mongolia, Regional Director for France and the Maghreb, Director of Sales in Addis Ababa, and Area Manager for Zambia. His earlier tenure in Lusaka provides him with direct operational experience in the Zambian aviation environment.
Jomo Matululu, Chairperson of the Zambia Airways Board of Directors, emphasized that the appointment aligns with the airline’s broader commercial mandate.
“This appointment reflects the Board’s commitment to strong leadership and our vision of building a competitive, safe, customer-focused, and market-driven airline that connects Zambia to regional and global opportunities,” Matululu stated.
Commenting on his new role, Aman identified operational safety, employee development, strategic alliances, and service delivery as his core priorities. He expressed his commitment to building a reliable flag carrier that reflects national aspirations while expanding its commercial reach.
Aman is the third consecutive Ethiopian executive designated to steer Zambia Airways since the airline resumed operations in December 2021. Under the shareholder agreement between the Zambian government and Ethiopian Airlines Group—which holds a 45 percent equity stake—Ethiopian Airlines retains the mandate to nominate the carrier’s chief executive:
- Asrat Jiru: Served as inaugural CEO following the December 2021 relaunch.
- Thomas Gabreyohannes Woldesenbet: Succeeded Asrat in April 2024.
- Aman Wole Gurmu: Assumed the executive role on August 1, 2026.
Aman’s move highlights the growing role of the Ethiopian Airlines Group as a primary talent pipeline for executive leadership in global and regional aviation:
- Tewolde Gebremariam: Former Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO, newly appointed CEO and Managing Director of Air India.
- Esayas Woldemariam Hailu: Serves as Chief Executive Officer of ASKY Airlines in Togo.
- Mesfin Biru Weldegeorgis: Directs operations as Director General of Air Congo in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- Solomon Bekele: Heads Malawi Airlines as Chief Executive Officer.
- Girma Wake: Industry veteran who previously served as Interim CEO and Senior Advisor at Uganda Airlines.
The pattern underscores how Ethiopian Airlines’ training and management pipeline has become a continental resource, placing its alumni in leadership positions at national carriers from West Africa to Southern Africa to South Asia.
Zambia Airways currently serves regional destinations including Dar es Salaam, Harare, Johannesburg, and Nairobi, alongside domestic routes connecting Lusaka, Ndola, Livingstone, and Solwezi. Whether Aman can leverage his network development experience to expand that footprint further will be closely watched by the regional aviation industry.
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