Ethiopian Airlines has replaced its board chairman Girma Wake with the commander of the country’s air force in a reshuffle whose details remain unclear.
Lt-Gen Yilma Merdasa, a board member, will now replace Girma.
The change was revealed by The EastAfrican an online media outlet, which says the decision came after a board meeting last week to review the company’s strategy.
The state-owned airline did not immediately announce the changes, but a source confirmed the ongoings, indicating the announcement would be made later.
“Yes, Mr Girma Wake has been succeeded by Lieutenant General Yilma Merdasa, the commander of the air force as Ethiopian Airlines board chairman,” the source, who opted to remain anonymous until the changes are formally declared.
Girma, 79, is among the first Ethiopians to manage the airline, having risen to serve as chief executive officer between 2004 and 2011. He would later chair the board for Rwanda’s national carrier, RwandAir, before returning to Ethiopia in 2018 to serve as chairman.
