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8 October, 2020

Air New Zealand appoints new customer and sales chief, as CFO tenders resignation

Air New Zealand has announced the appointment of Leanne Geraghty to the newly created position of chief customer and sales officer.

Geraghty’s appointment comes not long after the airline’s chief commercial and customer officer, Cam Wallace, tendered his resignation.

Originally from Australia, Geraghty (pictured above) is currently Air NZ’s group general manager of airports.

Air NZ chief executive Greg Foran said: “Leanne is an outstanding leader with a tremendous depth of industry knowledge, having worked in the aviation and tourism industries on both sides of the Tasman for more than 30 years and led teams around the world.

“Her detailed knowledge of the New Zealand, Australian and Pacific Island markets in particular sets us up well for the post-COVID-19 international tourism recovery when the time comes.

“Leanne is held in the highest regard by key stakeholders ranging from trade and government partners through to our most valuable customers and her fellow Air New Zealanders. She cares deeply about the success of our airline and its ability to make a positive difference for our nation.”

Meanwhile, Air NZ chief financial officer Jeff McDowall has confirmed that he intends to leave the airline toward the middle of 2021 after the completion of the airline’s planned capital raise.

“Jeff is playing a critical role in supporting myself and the board as we rebuild from the ravages of COVID-19, but after a career spanning more than two decades with the airline, he feels it will be time to open a new chapter of his career once the capital raise is complete,” Foran said.

“We will shortly commence a global search for a successor, and I would like to thank Jeff for giving us such a long line of sight of his career intentions.

“He has had an illustrious career at Air New Zealand, including as acting chief executive officer pending me starting earlier this year.

“Without Jeff’s leadership over the past two decades, especially as part of the executive team in recent years, the airline would not have delivered its long run of commercial success or grown its international footprint around the world so successfully.”

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air new zealand airline aviation Jeff McDowall Leanne Geraghty