IAS officer Kharola becomes new Air India CMD

New Delhi : The government on Tuesday appointed IAS officer Pradeep Singh Kharola as the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Air India.

According to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), Kharola is an IAS officer of the Karnataka cadre of 1985. He will have the rank and pay of a Secretary in the government.

Kharola headed the Metro in Bengaluru as Managing Director.

Interestingly, the appointment comes just days after the incumbent CMD of Air India Rajiv Bansal was given a three- month extension.

Bansal, who is presently Financial Advisor to the Petroleum & Natural Gas Ministry, had been given additional charge as Air India's CMD. He had succeeded Ashwani Lohani in August after the latter was appointed the Chairman of the Railway Board.