Air New Zealand CEO Greg Foran to step down in October 2025

AUCKLAND: Air New Zealand announced today that Chief Executive Officer Greg Foran will resign and leave the airline on October 20, 2025.

Chair, Dame Therese Walsh, stated that Foran has indicated to the Board that he believes the airline is well-positioned to continue its trajectory of growth and innovation, and the time is right for him to take on a new challenge.

“Greg has always displayed exceptional leadership and grit, not only guiding Air New Zealand through global aviation’s most significant crisis, but also maintaining the airline’s tradition of innovation, strong culture, and care for our country,” said Dame Therese. “His most notable contribution has been managing significant global supply chain challenges, beginning with COVID-19 and continuing today with engine issues affecting both our Boeing and Airbus fleets.”

“Foran’s relentless focus and global profile have been instrumental in mitigating the disruptions on our customers,” she added. “Greg has been very generous with his notice period, staying with Air New Zealand through to the middle of October. This allows the Board to carry out a global search for his replacement, which will begin immediately.”

Reflecting on his tenure, Foran said, “Leading Air New Zealand has been one of the greatest privileges of my career. It’s been an incredible experience alongside an exceptional team. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together and the way we’ve positioned Air New Zealand for the future.”

Foran expressed his gratitude to the airline’s team and customers, emphasizing that despite many external challenges, they have continued to deliver improvements in service. “I’ll leave later this year knowing Air New Zealand’s foundations are immensely strong, and its future very bright,” Foran said. “It has been an honor to serve our customers, our 11,500-strong team, and New Zealand.”

Foran’s departure marks the end of a notable five-year tenure at Air New Zealand, with the airline now set to embark on a global search for his successor.