Mesfin has 38 years of airline management and operations experience in aircraft maintenance and engineering, procurement, information technology, flight operations, capability development, capacity building, corporate strategy development, flight operations management and corporate governance. He holds a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from the Open University in the UK, an MSc in Electrical Engineering specializing in Communications Engineering from Addis Ababa University and a BSc in Electrical Engineering from Addis Ababa University.
The airline’s chief executive, Girma Wake, said: “I would like to congratulate Mr. Mesfin on his new appointment and I am confident in his abilities. We believe that Mr. Mesfin will lead the airline to even greater success and keep it on the right track that will see it grow for many generations to come. I call on Ethiopian’s 17,000 employees and board members to stand by the new Group CEO to keep the airline flying. We are also grateful for the remarkable contributions of the former Group CEO”.
For his part, Mesfin Tassew said: “I am honored and humbled to be appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Ethiopian Airlines Group, which I have served in various positions for almost four decades. My new role gives me the opportunity to drive rapid and profitable growth to continue our beloved airline and take it to the next level. I call on all my colleagues at Ethiopian to join hands and continue to drive success.”
Mesfin has been Chief Executive Officer of ASKY Airlines since 2021 and has led the airline with a profitable growth strategy until his new appointment. From 2010 to 2021 he served as Chief Operating Officer of Ethiopian Airlines.
In the various roles he held during his 38 years of service, Mesfin was instrumental in planning and executing strategies that propelled the airline to success in the African skies and beyond. His responsibilities included overall maintenance of ET’s fleet, skill and capacity development, management of the maintenance and engineering department’s automation project, and management of aircraft acquisition-related projects.
He successfully led the airline’s efficient and cost-effective operations by streamlining processes and developing internal resources to serve the airline’s growth strategy.
He also served as Vice President of Maintenance and Engineering from 2006 to 2010, Chief Information Officer from 1998 to 2006, Manager of Planning and Automation, Maintenance and Engineering Division from 1995 to 1997, and Avionics Engineer from 1984 to 1994 and Supervisor Avionics Engineering Group from 1984 – 1994.
He has attended numerous local and international seminars in the field of aviation industry and general leadership. He has received training in airline leadership and operational management, aviation regulations and aircraft maintenance, among others.
In 1984, Mesfin was awarded a gold medal as Outstanding Graduate of the Year by Addis Ababa University Faculty of Engineering.
(red / ET)