He began his professional journey in 1972, taking on various management positions in state-owned enterprises, including the Imperial Highway Authority, Central Press & Paper Converting Company, and the Glass & Bottle Company.
[5] During the Ethiopian Revolution, he emerged as a prominent leader in organizing the 1974 Ethiopian Muslim protests, which played a crucial role in advocating for the rights of Ethiopian Muslims to observe the Holy Month of Ramadan and to have Eid al-Adha recognized as an official public holiday in a country where Orthodox Christianity was constitutionally established as the state religion.
[6] After escaping the communist regime in 1980, he sought refuge in the UK, where he earned his PhD.
[9] In 1994, following the collapse of the Communist Derg regime, Ahmed Kellow returned to Ethiopia from the United Kingdom and was appointed as the CEO of Ethiopian Airlines by the ruling EPRDF government.
[10][11] Subsequently, he held the positions of managing director and Chairman of Coca-Cola Ethiopia.