Air New Zealand appoints new chief people officer and board members

Air New Zealand appoints new chief people officer and board members

While Air New Zealand has flagged thousands of job cuts in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s encouraging to see the airline is still hiring.

Earlier this week, Air NZ announced the appointment of Joe McCollum (pictured above) as its new chief people officer, effective 14 April 2020.

McCollum will take over from Jodie King, who is leaving the airline to become chief people officer at Vodafone New Zealand.

Previously, McCollum worked as a group HR director at Spark and, prior to that, headed human resources for global chemicals giant ICI plc based out of London. He has also worked across the software, music and media industries.

Air NZ chief executive Greg Foran said McCollum will bring to the Kiwi carrier an extensive depth of global change management and executive leadership experience forged in challenging environments.

“Joe is no stranger to the type of large-scale, rapid workplace change that Air New Zealand has ahead in the wake of COVID-19,” Foran said.

“He will be a key member of the team to rebuild our airline.”

The Kiwi carrier has contracted one of New Zealand’s most experienced employment relations practitioners, Paul Diver, to support McCollum with the workforce change management process currently underway.

Air NZ recently revealed the size of its workforce will reduce by up to 3,500 roles in the coming months, and anticipates to be 30 per cent smaller in 12 months’ time.

The airline also announced this week that former global CEO of Avis Budget Group, Larry De Shon, and former Freightways managing director Dean Bracewell, will join its board of directors from 20 April 2020.

De Shon and Bracewell have been appointed to fill the boardroom chair left vacant by Sir John Key, who retired as a director last month, and as part of succession planning for when deputy chairman Jan Dawson steps down at Air NZ’s annual shareholders’ meeting in September.

Latest News

  • Attractions

Wackadoo! Bluey’s World is set to open in Brisbane

Wackadoo! The eagerly anticipated Bluey’s World is set to open in Brisbane, on 7 November, offering families an unforgettable Bluey adventure with tickets on sale from tomorrow. Bluey’s World is a one-of-a-kind, immersive experience that will take visitors into the Heeler’s iconic family home, backyard and beyond – for real life. Get ready to play […]

  • Destinations

Listening to whales, followed by Ales and Prawn Tails on the Sunshine Coast

Queensland’s Sunshine Coast is preparing to welcome more than 40,000 humpback whales that are making their way up the Australian east coast on their annual migration. The Sunshine Coast is one of Australia’s premier whale tourism destinations, built on its long-established whale watching cruises and Sunreef’s pioneering Swim with Whales experience, which celebrates its 10th […]

  • Aviation
  • Travel Agents

Webjet relaunches partnership with AirAsia with a huge Asia flights sale

Online travel agency Webjet has have relaunched their partnership with AirAsia with a huge Asia flights sale, available until 2 June. To give customers a greater breadth of choice and price point, hundreds of new flight options to Aussie favourite destinations have been added, including Bali, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok via AirAsia, AirAsiaX, Thai AirAsia […]

  • Luxury

Why luxury clients are opting for immersive experiences over material items

The Luxury Travel Collection’s (LTC) inaugural business owners Soiree took place on Hayman Island last week. The event saw luxury leaders gathering to find out more about the key trends shaping the industry. The Immersion Day, held on Thursday 16 May 2024, followed the growing luxury client trend of valuing immersive experiences over material items. […]

  • Conferences

Empowering underserved communities: Expedia Group’s drive for more inclusive travel

Expedia Group has used the EXPLORE conference at the Aria Resort in Las Vegas to highlight initiatives that empower underserved communities worldwide.   In a groundbreaking move towards fostering diversity and inclusion within the travel industry, Expedia’s Global Social Impact and Sustainability Team is dedicated to shaping a travel landscape that is safe, welcoming, and accessible […]

  • Cruise

P&O rescues Rotary volunteers after collapse of Air Vanuatu

P&O Cruises Australia has answered a plea for help from a group of young Australian Rotary volunteers, stranded in Vanuatu following the collapse of Air Vanuatu. The students, many of them teenagers from Albury, NSW, were volunteering for a youth project run by the Hive Rotary Club Australia when the airline abruptly cancelled all flights, […]

  • Destinations

Intrepid continues expansions with launch of first DMC in Jordan

Intrepid has increased its presence in the Middle East with the opening of its first destination management company in Jordan. Based in Amman, the local team will operate Intrepid’s range of nine experiential small group tours in Jordan from this summer, with a view to expanding the range for 2025 and beyond. Zina Bencheikh, managing […]

  • Appointments

Minor hotels appoints Puneet Dhawan to key Asia role

Global hotel owner and operator Minor Hotels has appointed Puneet Dhawan as head of Asia as the group plots its growth in Asia and India. From July, Dhawan will be responsible for the performance of all Minor Hotels properties in Asia, working in close collaboration with the Minor Hotels senior leadership team and will report […]

  • Appointments

Abercrombie & Kent and Crystal appoint Evon Ler to director of sales, Asia

Abercrombie & Kent Travel Group have announced that Evon Ler will join them in the new role of director of sales, Asia. She will work closely with Tony Archbold (VP, Sales, APAC, Crystal) and Susan Haberle (VP, Sales & Partnerships, APAC, A&K) with trade support across the region. Ler comes to the A&K family with more […]