Air New Zealand appoints insider Nikhil Ravishankar as new CEO

Wednesday, 30 July 2025

Air New Zealand’s new chief executive in waiting Nikhil Ravishankar succeeds Greg Foran, who steps down in October having led the airline through one of the most challenging periods in aviation history.

Currently the airline’s chief digital officer, Ravishankar will officially move into the big office on October 20.

While highly regarded internally, Ravishankar is relatively unknown in the markets, but had impressed industry analysts.

Greg Smith at Devon Funds said he would have thought someone “a bit more punchy” would be put in the top job.

But it was always going to be a hard act to follow Foran, who served for six years, Smith said. He’d been the former US chief executive of the Walmart, one of the world’s largest companies.

Foran had to deal with significant turbulence during his tenure, including the outbreak of Covid shortly after starting in the job. The headwinds would continue for the national carrier for the next couple of years, due to ongoing engine availability issues for some of its jet fleet and the flow-on impacts to capacity.

That may have put off potential candidates from outside the airline, Smith said.

“It won't be an easy time, and it will be a bit of a battle. Maybe that wasn't particularly appetising for someone coming into it,” Smith said.

Tim O’Loan, New Zealand equities analyst at Nikko Asset Management said Ravishankar had impressed analysts at Air New Zealand’s investor day in November. “He was just a really impressive presenter, and stood out among that executive team on the day.

“I certainly walked away from that investor day really impressed by him and what he was doing in that digital and customer experience space. So I suppose it's those skills that people bring up to the leadership that they obviously see value in,” O’Loan said.

Aviation commentator and former head of the Aviation Industry Association Irene King said it was a positive that Ravishankar had been with the airline for five years.

The appointment of a technology manager to the top job was in line with Air New Zealand’s view of itself as a technology company that shifts people around the world, she said.

But Ravishankar has inherited an organisation “that is significantly bloated and its costs are out of control, and we, the customer, are paying for that”, King said.

“It doesn't matter where you look, they are trading off the goodwill of the New Zealand customers. And until they get their costs very clearly managed and under control, then the New Zealand customer will continue to pay the price of the Air New Zealand monopoly here in New Zealand.”

Ravishankar would have to exercise extreme control and be very disciplined, she said.

“There is no reason why, looking at his background, he's not fully acquainted with all of these challenges.”

But at the end of the day, it came down to the board's discipline, ability and competencies to exert pressure on the management team, King said. “And the board itself does not have the skills and the expertise, and that's been shown repeatedly, to exercise the sort of disciplines that are required in the airline environment.”

Unless Ravishankar was prepared to take up the challenge, “then we're just going to have more of the same, but obviously with some pretty trick technology solutions”.

Air New Zealand chairperson Dame Therese Walsh said during his time at the airline Ravishankar had gained a deep understanding of the aviation sector, and the airline. He had also led major advances in the airline’s technology backbone, loyalty programme and customer proposition.

Walsh said the appointment marked the beginning of the next chapter for the airline, reflecting the strong momentum under way and a new generation of leadership for the future.

“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. 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.

Other candidates mooted after Foran announced his resignation in May last year included former Air New Zealand executives Cam Wallace, who is now chief executive of Qantas international and freight, and Auckland Airport boss Carrie Hurihanganui.

“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,” Walsh said.

Before Air New Zealand, Ravishankar was chief digital officer at Vector and managing director of Accenture.

“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.

“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 said.