Wellington: The next chief executive officer (CEO) of Air New Zealand, will be a person of Indian origin, the airline announced on Wednesday. Nikhil Ravishankar, who is currently the chief digital officer of the airline, will take over from Greg Foran on October 20.
According to the New Zealand Herald, Foran had, in March, announced that he would step down as CEO.
Ravishankar has been with Air New Zealand the airline for nearly five years, during which he has supervised major advancements in digital infrastructure, customer experience, and loyalty systems.
Air New Zealand chairperson Dame Therese Walsh, described it as a pivotal moment that reflects both momentum and renewal.
“We have always been bold and not afraid to adapt and lead. Nikhil brings the mindset and contemporary leadership we need to build on our strong foundations and focus on the future. The Board undertook an extensive international search and were delighted to see Nikhil come through the process so strongly,” she said.
“His ambition for the airline’s future and his people-leadership skills, coupled with his pursuit of excellence, digital literacy, global outlook and relationships, and his deep care for the airline and New Zealand shone through,” Walsh added.
“Airlines will continue to face immense challenges, whether that’s climate change, customer expectations, technology, cost pressures or geopolitics. Nikhil brings a fresh perspective that is grounded in New Zealand values and a deep knowledge of the airline and critical infrastructure across different sectors. He’s not afraid to challenge how things are done and ask questions,” the chairperson said.
Ravishankar said that he was “thrilled and humbled” to take on the role.
“I’m both thrilled and humbled to be given this opportunity to lead Air New Zealand,” Ravishankar said in a statement on the airline’s website.
“This airline is an institution with a deep legacy but also a fantastic future. It’s a privilege to step into the CEO role and take on that responsibility for our people, our customers, and our country,” Ravishankar said.
“Airlines are complex, and safety underpins every decision we make. I truly believe that New Zealand is one of the most innovative nations in the world and one of the greatest destinations to visit. Our airline is amongst the very best and I get to work with some of the most dedicated people in the country, from our cabin crew, engineers and pilots to our ground teams, corporate and digital teams behind the scenes,” he added.
“At the end of the day, we are a people business – purposeful, ambitious, and deeply rooted in Aotearoa New Zealand, and I’m excited to help shape what this next stage of Air New Zealand looks like,” the future CEO concluded.
Ravishankar holds a Bachelor of Science, Computer Science and a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) from the University of Auckland and is an advisor and mentor for the university’s Strategic CIO program, according to his profile on Air New Zealand’s website.
He’s also a member of the Auckland University of Technology (AUT) AUTEUR Influencer Network, on the board of New Zealand Asian Leaders and an advisory committee member of The Auckland Blues Foundation, according to the website.
Prior to Air New Zealand, Ravishankar was chief digital officer at Vector New Zealand, leading the company’s digital and information technology function and its transformation programme since 2017. Before that, he was a managing director at Accenture in Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand and held technology strategy and transformation leadership roles at Telecom New Zealand (Spark).