Prime Highlights

• Air New Zealand appoints Chief Digital Officer Nikhil Ravishankar as its new CEO from 20 October 2025.
• He replaces Greg Foran, who guided the airline through COVID-19 rebound and international operating difficulties.

Key Fact

• Ravishankar has been in senior digital strategy leadership positions at Air New Zealand, Vector, and Accenture.
• His appointment is a deliberate step to technology-led aviation leadership.

Key Background

Air New Zealand has verified the appointment of Nikhil Ravishankar as its unborn Chief Executive Officer, from 20 October 2025. Ravishankar, who’s presently Air New Zealand’s Chief Digital Officer, will replace Greg Foran, who led the business through the unequaled deformations of the COVID- 19 epidemic and global force chain dislocation. The leadership handover signals a strong shift towards digital invention and long- term strategic development.

Ravishankar joined Air New Zealand in September 2021, where he was responsible for large- scale digital metamorphoses similar as reimagining the airline’s client platforms, fidelity structure, and functional technology structure. Prior to joining the airline, he was a largely rewarded superintendent at Vector and Accenture, where he developed experience in digital invention and global business leadership. His background tells it each about how he understands digital ecosystems can transfigure client experience and functional effectiveness.

Headed by Dame Therese Walsh, Air New Zealand’s Board selected Ravishankar for his long-term vision, emotional intelligence in being a leader, and willingness to challenge the current models. With the aviation industry being subjected to increasing pressure from climatic change, changes in passenger behavior, and pressures of costs, the board feels that his technology-driven vision will be priceless in navigating a challenging and competitive global market.

Under Ravishankar’s leadership in the future, Air New Zealand will keep introducing big breakthroughs such as the arrival of new aircraft, the upgrade of its Dreamliner fleet, and leading the way on sustainable aviation through trials of hybrid-electric aircraft. His appointment also shows increasing significance of digital growth in the airlines sector, setting Air New Zealand to innovate, recover, and thrive for the future.

This shift in leadership is not only a testament to the airline’s dedication to innovative strategy but also underscores the importance of digital literacy in senior corporate aviation leadership.