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 through one of the most challenging periods in aviation history. Currently the airline’s Chief Digital Officer, Ravishankar will officially take over as CEO on 20 October 2025. In the nearly five years that Ravishankar has been at Air New Zealand he has gained a deep understanding of the aviation sector, and the airline. He has also led major advances in the airline’s technology backbone, loyalty programme and customer proposition.
(Editor’s Note: Mandarin version available below. 编辑注：以下为中文版。)
Air New Zealand Board Chair Therese Walsh says the appointment marks the beginning of the next chapter for the airline, reflecting the strong momentum underway and a new generation of leadership for the future. Across Air New Zealand we are very clear on what matters most – connecting our communities and country to each other and the world, delivering value and excellence, and running a world-class airline that all Kiwi are proud of. We have always been bold and not afraid to adapt and lead. Nikhil brings the mindset and cotemporary 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. 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.
“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,” says Walsh.
Prior to 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,” says Ravishankar. “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. 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,” says Ravishankar.
新西兰航空公司宣布任命尼希尔·拉维尚卡（Nikhil Ravishankar）为新任首席执行官，他将接替将于十月卸任的格雷格·福兰（Greg Foran），后者在过去近六年的时间里领导该航空公司度过了航空历史上最具挑战性的阶段之一。目前担任航空公司首席数字官的拉维尚卡将于2025年10月20日正式接任首席执行官。在拉维尚卡在新西兰航空公司近五年的任职期间，他对航空行业和公司有了深刻的了解，并主导了航空公司技术核心、忠诚度计划和客户定位的重大进展。
新西兰航空公司董事会主席特蕾西·沃尔什（Therese Walsh）表示，此次任命标志着航空公司迈入新篇章，反映出强劲的发展势头和面向未来的新一代领导。整个新西兰航空公司，我们非常清楚最重要的事情是什么——连接我们的社区和国家、为彼此和世界提供价值和卓越，运营一个所有新西兰人都引以为豪的世界一流航空公司。我们一直勇敢，不怕适应和引领。尼希尔带来了我们需要的心态和现代领导力，以在我们的坚实基础上继续前行并专注于未来。董事会进行了广泛的国际搜索，欣喜地见证尼希尔在这一过程中脱颖而出。他对航空公司未来的抱负和他的人员领导技能，加上他对卓越的追求、数字素养、全球视野和关系，以及他对航空公司和新西兰的深切关怀，都备受瞩目。
“航空公司将继续面临巨大挑战，无论是气候变化、客户期望、技术、成本压力还是地缘政治挑战。尼希尔带来了一种植根于新西兰价值观的独特视角，并深知航空公司和各个行业的重要基础设施。他不怕挑战现状，敢于提出问题，”沃尔什表示。
在新西兰航空公司之前，拉维尚卡曾担任Vector的首席数字官和埃森哲的董事总经理。拉维尚卡表示：“被赋予这个机会来领导新西兰航空公司，我感到既激动又谦卑。这家航空公司不仅拥有深厚的传统，也有美好的未来。作为首席执行官，我有责任为我们的员工、客户和国家承担起这一责任。航空公司是复杂的，每个决定都以安全为基础。我真的相信，新西兰是世界上最具创新精神的国家之一，也是最棒的旅游目的地之一。我们的航空公司是最优秀的之一，我有机会与国内最敬业的人一起合作，从空乘人员、工程师和飞行员到我们的地勤团队、企业和幕后数字团队。归根结底，我们是一家以人为本的公司——有目标、有抱负，深深扎根于新西兰，我很高兴帮助塑造新西兰航空的下一个阶段。”
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