Indian‑origin Tech Executive Nikhil Ravishankar Named Next CEO of Air New Zealand, to Assume Office on October 20, 2025.
Appointment
In late July 2025, Air New Zealand announced that Nikhil Ravishankar, currently its Chief Digital Officer, has been appointed as the airline’s next Chief Executive Officer. His appointment follows a global search and comes as Greg Foran prepares to step down in October, marking the start of a new digital‑centred leadership era.
- Air New Zealand confirmed Nikhil Ravishankar as its new CEO on July 30, 2025. He is set to take over from outgoing CEO Greg Foran on October 20, 2025.
- Ravishankar succeeds Greg Foran, who led the airline for nearly six years and oversaw it through the COVID‑19 crisis and operational hurdles. The leadership transition is framed as the launch of a new chapter for the airline.
- A technology and digital transformation specialist, Ravishankar joined Air New Zealand in 2021 as Chief Digital Officer. He previously held senior roles at Vector New Zealand and Accenture (in Hong Kong, Australia, and New Zealand), and started his career in technology strategy at Telecom New Zealand (now Spark).
Main Point :- (i) During his nearly five‑year tenure, he led major advances in the airline’s technology backbone, loyalty programme, and customer proposition. His deep understanding of the aviation business was cited as a key asset by the board.
(ii) Board Chair Dame Therese Walsh described his appointment as the beginning of the next chapter for Air New Zealand, emphasising Ravishankar’s digital literacy, global outlook, leadership skills, and alignment with New Zealand values. She highlighted that the broader aviation industry faces significant challenges—climate change, rising customer expectations, cost pressures, and geopolitics—areas where Ravishankar’s fresh perspective is seen as critical.
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