Air New Zealand has announced the appointment of Nikhil Ravishankar as its next chief executive officer, succeeding Greg Foran who steps down in October after almost six years leading the airline.
Ravishankar will officially take over as CEO on 20 October 2025 after joining the airline in 2021 as its chief digital officer and having led “major advances” in its loyalty and booking systems.
Prior to joining the carrier, Ravishankar served as the chief digital officer at energy company Vector and has also held senior management roles at Accenture and telecommunications firm Spark New Zealand.
Air New Zealand board chair, Dame Therese Walsh, said the appointment paves the way for a new generation of leadership at the airline.
"Nikhil brings the mindset and contemporary leadership we need to build on our strong foundations and focus on the future,” she said. “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.”
Commenting on his new role, Ravishankar said: "It's a privilege to step into the CEO role and take on that responsibility for our people, our customers, and our country… 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.”