Concerned. That’s the mood of the travel industry today, following the news that Air New Zealand ceo Greg Foran is departing the business in Oct.
It’s not so much that Foran is leaving, say key industry stakeholders contacted. The issue is more ‘that the airline has seen a steady stream of senior executive and IP leaving the building for the past couple of years’, and that NZ is facing operational issues ‘it just can’t get under control’. There’s plenty of speculation around whether Foran decided to leave or whether he was pushed. And there’s also plenty of robust feedback around Foran’s perceived disinterest in the trade distribution. “But all of that’s irrelevant now,” says one chain head. “The concern is who is stepping into the role, and if NZ has enough experienced executives left to turn the operational issues around and reduce the reputational damage.” While the trade stakeholders obviously want a ceo with trade or airline experience they note that was not a factor for the board’s last two ceos.
The NZ board has said it will commence a global search for a new ceo. But one chain head says ‘it’s going to be a tough gig’ to step into the role just a few weeks after Scott Wiklinson starts at the carrier as chief commercial officer (replacing Leanne Geraghty), and given the state of flux at the carrier. The chain heads also acknowledge the angst for the NZ staff who are ‘up against it’ as the operational issues continue.
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The Travel Today phones have been ringing hot today, as those in the trade speculate who could be the next NZ ceo. Cam Wallace gets a frequent mention, but the reality is given that the scale of his role at a much larger airline, Qantas, it seems unlikely that he’d come back to Auckland, after already been passed over for the top job once. At the same time, NZ’s much-loved Leanne Geraghty has only just left, after 20 years and relocated to Sydney working at SYD Airport. Former NZer Ed Sims gets a mention for an outside running, and a couple of industry lefties are tongue in cheek ‘offering’ Luxon back to NZ.
