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Air New Zealand has tapped its chief digital officer to take over from Greg Foran as chief executive.
Nikhil Ravishankar, who has been at the airline for almost five years, will succeed Foran when he leaves the post on 20 October. According to Air New Zealand, during his tenure, Ravishankar has led major advances in the airline’s technology, Airpoints loyalty scheme, and customer proposition.
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Dame Therese Walsh, chair of Air New Zealand’s board, said Ravishankar “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. 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,” she said.
“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.”
Before joining Air New Zealand, Ravishankar spent two years as managing director of Accenture and just over four and a half years as chief digital officer at energy company Vector Limited. In a statement, he hailed the carrier as an “institution with a deep legacy but also a fantastic future”.
“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,” he said.
“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.
“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.”
Speaking to Australian Aviation in May, Foran said he does not intend to retire after leaving Air New Zealand.
“I certainly have plenty of energy for another challenge. This has been an incredible experience. It would have been six years by the time that I move out,” he said.
“I’m cognisant that one of the things that chief executives do is set the business up for success and to make sure that at a point in time you do hand the baton and the relay over for the next person, and now’s about the right time to do that.”
