Air New Zealand names Indian-origin Nikhil Ravishankar as CEO

Air New Zealand on Wednesday announced the appointment of Indian-origin Nikhil Ravishankar as its next Chief Executive Officer. Ravishankar, who is currently the airline’s chief digital officer, will take over from Greg Foran on October 20.

Foran announced in March that he would step down as Air New Zealand Chief, according to a report in The New Zealand Herald.

Ravishankar has been with the airline for nearly five years, during which he has overseen major advancements in digital infrastructure, customer experience, and loyalty systems.

Announcing the appointment, Air New Zealand board chair, 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,” Walsh 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,” said Dame Therese Walsh.

THRILLED AND HUMBLED TO TAKE ON THE ROLE: NIKHIL RAVISHANKAR

Expressing happiness, Ravishankar, in a statement issued on the airline’s website, said 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.

“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 also 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,” Ravishankar concluded.

WHO IS NIKHIL RAVISHANKAR?

Nikhil 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, Nikhil was Chief Digital Officer at Vector New Zealand, leading the company’s digital and information technology function and its transformation programme since 2017.

Before this, 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).

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