Meet the Winning Team

Mr. Mesfin Tasew was appointed as Group Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines in March 2022.

He joined Ethiopian in 1984 as Associate Engineer and progressed through the ladder and served in supervisorial and managerial positions in the Aircraft Maintenance and Engineering areas. In 1997 and 1999, he was appointed as Director Operations & Technical Systems Support and Chief Information Officer, respectively.

In 2006, he was appointed as Vice President of Maintenance and Engineering. Mr. Mesfin also served as Chief Operating Officer of Ethiopian Airlines from 2010 – 2021, and Chief Executive Officer of ASKY Airlines from April 2021 to March 2022.

Mr. Mesfin also serves as a member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Board of Governors.

He holds BSC and MSc Degrees in Electrical Engineering from Addis Ababa University. He also holds Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from Open University in the UK.

Mr. Lemma joined Ethiopian on September 06, 1999 as Marketing Agent. He has been serving in various managerial positions including Lead Central Reservation Control Agent, Supervisor Central Reservation Control and Revenue Management, Area Manager Burkina Faso, Malaysia and France. In December 2017, Mr. Lemma was appointed as Director Global Call Center, and A/Managing Director Ethiopian International Services since September 01, 2019.

Currently, he is serving Ethiopian as Chief Commercial Officer as of April 2022.

He holds BSC Degree in Civil Engineering from Addis Ababa University, Faculty of Technology, MSC in Geotechnical Engineering from Addis Ababa University, Faculty of Technology and MSC Degree in Integrated Marketing Communication from University of Mississippi.

Mr. Retta Melaku joined Ethiopian in 1994 as a Junior Aircraft Technician after graduating from Ethiopian Aviation Academy. He has been serving in various managerial positions including Manager Customer Support, Manager Technical Coordination, Manager Technical Coordination and HR Services, Director Component Maintenance, Director Engine Maintenance, Director MRO Sales and Marketing, Managing Director Ethiopian MRO Services and Acting Chief Operating Officer.

Currently, he is serving Ethiopian as Chief Operating Officer as of April 2022.

He is a graduate of Ethiopian Aviation Academy in Avionics Maintenance; holds master’s degree in Business Administration from the Open University of London (UK) and Bachelor of Arts Degree in Management from Addis Ababa University.

Mr. Adamu joined Ethiopian as Senior Accountant in the Revenue Accounting Division in 1996. He has been serving the airline in various managerial streams including Senior Financial Analyst cash and Credit Management, Senior Financial Analyst Insurance, Fuel and Taxes, Manager Insurance, Fuel and Taxes, Manager Financial Analysis and Statistics, Acting Director Management Accounting, Director Treasury and Group Treasurer. He has also served as Director Finance and Strategic Planning at Malawi Airlines.

Currently, he is serving as Chief Financial Officer as of November 2023. 

He holds a BA Degree in Accounting from Addis Ababa University, Bachelor of Commerce BCom (Hons) in Financial Management and Magister Commercii (Master of Commerce) in Financial Management Sciences at the University of Pretoria, Certified Accountant with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and member since 2007 and Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Open University (UK).

Mr. Getinet Tadesse Joined Ethiopian as a Jr. Programmer on January 18, 2000. He has served Ethiopian as Manager Systems & Operation, Dir. Operation & Support, Dir Corporate Systems, Head Group IT Services Operation and Acting Group Chief Information Officer.

Currently, he is serving as Group Chief Information Officer as of April 2022.

He is a Graduate of BSC Degree in Electrical Engineering from Addis Ababa University & MBA from Open University (UK).

Mr. Teklehaimanot G. Yohannes joined Ethiopian Airlines in 1995 as a marketing clerk officer after graduating from Ethiopian Airlines School of Marketing and Finance. He has been serving the airline in various managerial streams including Junior Transportation Agent, Transportation Agent, Senior Transportation Agent, Associate Instructor (Marketing), Instructor (Marketing), Senior Instructor (Marketing), Manager Airport Services, Brussels, Manager Airport Services, London, Director Addis Ababa Hub Operations, Acting Managing Director Ethiopian Ground Services, Regional Director Sales & Services (Europe & America), Managing Director Addis Ababa Hub Ground Services, and Regional Director Greater China and Mongolia..

Currently, he is serving Ethiopian as MD International Services as of April 2024.

Mr. Teklehaimanot earned MBA in Marketing Management from the UK Open University, MSc in Economic Development Policy and Good Governance from the University of Paris and CERIS in Belgium, BA degree in Economics from Addis Ababa University, BA degree in Business Management from Addis Ababa University, Diploma in Computer Science from Addis Ababa University, and Diploma in Chemistry from Addis Ababa University.

Mr. Ermias Abebe joined Ethiopian Airlines in 2014 as a Staff Attorney. Progressing through the ladder, Mr. Ermias, currently is the A/VP of Legal Counsel and Corporate Secretariat as of November 2023. Mr. Ermias holds LLB Degree from Bahir Dar University & LLM from University of South Africa (UNISA).

Mr. Ermias is married and a father of two daughters.

Mr. Hailemelekot joined Ethiopian on October 14, 1992 as Jr. Marketing Agent and served the Airlines in various positions including Manager Customer Loyalty, Area Manager Saudi Arabia, Director for Service Quality Management, Director for Customer Loyalty and CRM, A/V.P Marketing, MD ET Regional Services, CEO Malawian Airlines, Director for International Airport Services, and Director Ground Handling & Customer Experience.

Currently he is serving Ethiopian as Vice President ETHIOPIAN-Holiday, Digital Sales and Global Customer Interaction Center (GCIC) as of April 2022.

Mr.  Hailemelekot holds a Diploma in Accounting from AAU Commercial College, BA degree in Management and Master Of Business Administration degree from Addis Ababa University.

Mr.  Hailemelekot is married and a father of three children.

Mrs. Rahel Assefa joined Ethiopian Airlines in 1988 as a college trainee in the Sales Department after graduating from the Addis Ababa University in Management & Public Administration.

She worked in various Managerial positions within the Airline such as Sales, Commercial Planning, Revenue Management, as Regional Representative (U.K) and she is currently serving Ethiopian as Vice President Marketing the position she is holding since October 2013.

In February 2015, she was named among the Worlds’ 30 Most Compelling Women in Travel by the U.S based Premier Travel Magazine.

Mrs. Zenebework joined Ethiopian on January 22, 1996 and served the Airlines in various positions including Sr. Accountant, Analyst, Analyst — Compensation, Sr. Analyst Compensation, Sup. Compensation, Mgr. Compensation & Suggestion, Mgr. compensation, Mgr. Reward & Retention, Dir. Personnel Admin, Mgr. HR & Finance — EAA, Mgr. HR & Finance — Ground Services, Mgr. Employee Reward & Time Management, Dir. Personnel Administration, Secondment Mgr. HR & Finance Tchadia Airlines on secondment bases, and Acting Group VP HCM.

Currently, she is serving Ethiopian as Group VP HRM as of November 13,2023.

Mrs. Zenebework holds BA Degree in Accounting from Asmara University, MBA degree in Business Administration from Addis Ababa University, and MBA in Executive Business Administration from Open University.

Mrs. Zenebework is married and a Mother of two daughters.

Mr. Kassie Yimam joined Ethiopian Airlines on January 26, 1995 as Junior Aircraft Technician and served the Airline in various positions including A/C Technician, Senior Aircraft Technician, Technical Instructor at the Pilot Training School, Course Developer, Manager Curriculum Development and e-learning Solutions, Head Training Standards and Development and Managing Director Ethiopian Aviation Academy.

He is currently serving as VP Ethiopian Aviation Trainings as of March 01, 2023.

He is a graduate from Aviation Maintenance Technicians School of Ethiopian Aviation Academy and holds a Master of Business Administration in Business Management and BA degree in Economics both from Addis Ababa University.

Mr. Kassie is married and a father of three sons.

Mr. Mengistu joined Ethiopian in October 1995 as a college trainee. He has served the company in different capacities including Internal Auditor, Senior Internal Auditor, Senior Collection Control Officer, Department Manager Cost Accounting, Manager Corporate Audit, Director Internal Audit, Mgr. HR & Finance-Tchadia Air (on secondment), Director Finance & Strategic Planning-Ceiba Intercontinental (on Secondment), and Acting VP Internal Audit, QMS, SMS, Compliance and Business Sustainability.

Currently, he is serving as VP Internal Audit, QMS, SMS, Compliance and Business Sustainability as of April 2022.

He earned his B.A. and BSc Degrees in Accounting and Information Systems from Addis Ababa University and, Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) certificate from the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), USA.

Mr. Mengistu is married and a father of three children.

Mr. Samson Arega has joined Ethiopian as a college trainee in 2014. He has been serving in various positions including Assistant Marketing officer, Jr Sales Representative, Sr Sales Representative, Team leader Sales Support, A/Manager Passenger Sales Addis Ababa, Area Manager Kuwait, Area Manager Canada, and Regional Director Sales & Services United States of America.

He is currently serving Ethiopian as Group Vice President Customer Experience since May 2024.

He holds a BA Degree in International Trade & Investment Management from Adama Science and Technology University, an MSc Degree in Integrated Marketing Management (IMC) from the University of Mississippi, USA, a Credential of Readiness Diploma from Harvard Business School for Business Analytics, Economics for Managers, & Financial Accounting and a certificate from London Business School in Leadership Excellence Programme.

Mr. Samson is married and a father of three children.

Capt. Yoseph Hailu Joined Ethiopian on March 21,1985, as F/O DHC-6 and served the Airline in various positions including F/E 727-200, F/O 727, F/O 757-767, Capt. DHC-6, Capt./Instructor F-50, Fleet, Capt. B737/ Turbo Pro. A/C Capt. B767/B757, Manager Training and Standards, DVM flight operations training & tech, Capt. B777 and Director Flight Training.

Currently, he is serving as VP Flight Operations as of June 2022.

Capt. Yoseph has a diploma from school of PTS.

Capt. Yoseph is married and a father of three daughters.