Ilker Ayci turns down Tata Sons' proposal

Ilker Ayci has declined the Tata Group’s proposal to become Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Air India. Tata Sons said on February 14 that Ayci, the former chairman of Turkish Airlines, will take over as CEO and MD of the debt-ridden airline that the Tatas bought out for $2.4 billion in equity and debt.

Stating that since the announcement, some sections of the Indian media have been “attempting to colour my appointment with undesirable colours,” Ayci said:

The development was verified by sources a representative for India’s Tata, which recently took over debt-ridden Air India in a $2.4 billion equity and debt deal.

After the Swadeshi Jagran Manch – a group associated to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh – urged on the government to reject the recruitment of the hugely experienced Turkish aviation specialist due to ‘national security concerns,’ Ayci turned down the Tata offer.

 SJM leader Ashwani Mahajan stated the administration is “sensitive” to the problem and that “decisions regarding a person are made based on his ties.”

When Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was Mayor of Istanbul from 1994 to 1998, Ayci served as an advisor to him.

Between 2005 to 2012, he served as Chairman of Turkish Airlines, assisting in the turnaround of the once-struggling airline.

On April 1, Ayci was supposed to start his new job at Air India.

He had to pass a necessary background check by the Home Ministry, as per norms requiring foreign nationals assigned to important positions in any Indian corporation to be thoroughly vetted first.

Ayci started his career in 1994 and has worked for Kurtsan Ilaclar A.S., Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, and Universal Dis Ticaret A.S., among others.

He also served as an adviser to Recep Tayyip Erdoan, the mayor of Istanbul at the time.

Because of Ayci’s political affiliations in Turkey, the Swadeshi Jagran Manch, a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) branch, had asked the government to “seriously investigate into his credentials.”

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