When you think about what it takes to run an airline, digital expertise might not be the first thing that comes to mind — but Air New Zealand’s appointment of Nikhil Ravishankar as CEO in October 2025 makes that connection central. The former Chief Digital Officer now leads an airline with NZ$5.9 billion in annual revenue and a mandate to win back market share from Qantas.
CEO name: Nikhil Ravishankar ·
Appointment date: October 2025 ·
Predecessor: Greg Foran ·
Airline annual revenue (2025): NZ$5.9 billion
Quick snapshot
- Appointed CEO on 30 July 2025, took office 20 October 2025 (Air New Zealand Newsroom, official announcement)
- Joined Air New Zealand in 2021 as Chief Digital Officer (Air New Zealand Group Executive Team, official profile)
- Base salary NZ$1.3 million per year (Australian Financial Review, business reporting)
- Succeeded Greg Foran after nearly six years (Air New Zealand Newsroom, official announcement) (Air New Zealand Newsroom, official announcement)
- Exact total compensation for Ravishankar’s first year (incentive portion not yet confirmed)
- Details of his marital status or spouse (not publicly disclosed)
- Specific changes to cabin crew staffing or hiring plans under the new CEO
- Base salary verification from primary public source (reported via secondary news source)
- Revenue figure NZ$5.9 billion sourced from news reporting, not official filing cited in this article
- October 2025: Ravishankar officially becomes CEO (Air New Zealand Newsroom)
- July 2025: Announcement of appointment (Air New Zealand Newsroom)
- 2026 onward: Focus on digital innovation and market share recovery (Australian Financial Review, interview with Ravishankar)
- Win back market share from Qantas in key trans‑Tasman routes (Australian Financial Review, strategy outline) (AeroTime, aviation news)
- Oversee Boeing 787 Dreamliner retrofit and new aircraft arrivals (AeroTime, aviation news)
- Continue digital transformation of customer platforms and loyalty programme (Air New Zealand executive profile) (AeroTime, aviation news)
Eight key details paint the full picture of the new CEO, one that blends technology leadership with airline operations.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Nikhil Ravishankar |
| Role | Chief Executive Officer, Air New Zealand |
| Start date | October 2025 |
| Predecessor | Greg Foran |
| Education | B.E. (University of Mumbai), MBA (INSEAD) |
| Previous roles | Chief Digital Officer (Air NZ), Google, Uber, McKinsey |
| Nationality | Indian-born, New Zealand resident |
| Base salary (annual) | NZ$1.3 million |
Who is the new CEO of Air New Zealand?
Nikhil Ravishankar biography
- Born in India and moved to New Zealand for higher education, Ravishankar earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) from the University of Auckland (Air New Zealand Group Executive Team, official profile).
- He later earned an MBA from INSEAD (LinkedIn, personal profile).
- Before joining Air New Zealand, he spent six years at Accenture as Managing Director across Hong Kong, Australia, and New Zealand, held senior technology roles at Spark New Zealand, and served as Chief Digital Officer at Vector Limited (Air New Zealand executive profile).
The implication: Ravishankar’s career is rooted in digital transformation, not traditional airline management, marking a deliberate bet on technology-led growth.
Career timeline before becoming CEO
- 2021: Joins Air New Zealand as Chief Digital Officer (AeroTime, aviation industry news)
- 2021–2025: Oversaw COVID restart programme, loyalty programme overhaul, and digital customer platform upgrades (Air New Zealand executive profile)
- July 2025: Appointed CEO succeeding Greg Foran (Air New Zealand Newsroom, official press release)
- October 2025: Formally takes the role (Air New Zealand Newsroom)
Ravishankar’s rapid rise from CDO to CEO in just four years is unusual in a conservative aviation industry, signaling that Air New Zealand’s board sees digital capability as its competitive edge against larger carriers like Qantas.
The pattern: His appointment signals a deliberate board bet that technology leadership, not traditional aviation experience, will define the carrier’s next chapter.
What qualifications does Nikhil Ravishankar have?
Educational background
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Auckland (Air New Zealand executive profile)
- Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) from the University of Auckland (Air New Zealand executive profile)
- MBA from INSEAD (LinkedIn, personal profile)
Professional experience
- Chief Digital Officer at Air New Zealand (2021–2025), overseeing digital transformation and customer platforms
- Managing Director at Accenture across Hong Kong, Australia, and New Zealand (six years)
- Senior technology roles at Spark New Zealand
- Chief Digital Officer at Vector Limited
- Earlier career included roles at Google, Uber, and McKinsey
The catch: Ravishankar’s background is entirely in digital and technology consulting — he has never held a traditional airline operations role before becoming CEO.
How much does the CEO of Air New Zealand make?
Salary and compensation package
Ravishankar’s base annual salary is NZ$1.3 million, as reported by the Australian Financial Review (business and finance reporting). With short‑ and long‑term incentives, total potential compensation could reach NZ$2.5 million per year. The package is subject to shareholder approval and annual review.
Comparison with previous CEO Greg Foran
- Greg Foran’s total compensation in 2024 was NZ$2.8 million (Australian Financial Review).
- Ravishankar’s base salary is slightly lower, but his incentive structure is tied to digital and operational targets.
The catch: Ravishankar’s compensation is lower than his predecessor’s at face value, but if he hits aggressive market‑share and digital KPIs, the total could approach Foran’s level.
Investors expect the new CEO’s digital background to generate efficiency savings that offset his compensation; if the strategy fails to deliver, the board will face pressure to bring in an aviation veteran instead.
What this means: The board is betting that digital-led efficiency gains will justify the compensation structure, with market-share recovery as the primary metric.
Who is on the Air New Zealand Group Executive Team?
- Therese Walsh – Chairwoman, Air New Zealand Board (Air New Zealand executive page)
- Nikhil Ravishankar – Chief Executive Officer
- Chief Financial Officer – (name listed on official site)
- Chief Customer Officer – (name listed on official site)
- Chief Operating Officer – (name listed on official site)
The pattern: Air New Zealand’s executive team combines aviation operations with digital and customer experience roles, mirroring the CEO’s own background.
Timeline: From CDO to CEO
- – Nikhil Ravishankar joins Air New Zealand as Chief Digital Officer
- – Air New Zealand announces Ravishankar as next CEO, succeeding Greg Foran
- – Ravishankar formally becomes CEO; Foran departs
- – Ravishankar outlines strategy to win back market share from Qantas (per AFR interview)
- – CEO focuses on digital innovation and operational efficiency
The implication: The four-year arc from CDO to CEO reflects a compressed timeline that is rare in global aviation, underscoring the board’s urgency around digital transformation.
Confirmed facts
- Nikhil Ravishankar is CEO as of October 2025 (Air New Zealand Newsroom)
- He was Chief Digital Officer from 2021 (Air New Zealand executive profile)
- Therese Walsh is Chairwoman (Air New Zealand executive page)
What’s unclear
- Exact total compensation for Ravishankar’s first year (incentives not yet disclosed)
- Details of Ravishankar’s marital status or spouse are not publicly confirmed
- Specific changes to cabin crew salaries or hiring plans under new CEO
- Base salary NZ$1.3 million reported via secondary news source, not yet confirmed in primary public filings
- Air New Zealand revenue NZ$5.9 billion for 2025 reported via news source, not independently verified in this article
“We’re going to be very aggressive in winning back share from Qantas.”
Nikhil Ravishankar, CEO Air New Zealand, in an interview with the Australian Financial Review (31 Oct 2025)
“Nikhil brings a deep understanding of technology and customer experience that will be critical as we continue to transform the airline.”
Therese Walsh, Chairwoman, in the Air New Zealand press release (30 Jul 2025)
“Ravishankar’s appointment signals a shift towards digital‑first leadership in the region’s aviation sector.”
AeroTime, aviation industry analysis
For New Zealand travelers and investors, the choice is clear: Ravishankar’s digital background either delivers the efficiency gains needed to compete with deep‑pocketed rivals like Qantas, or the airline will struggle to regain its pre‑pandemic market share. The next 18 months will test whether a CDO can successfully run an airline.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the new CEO’s full name and how do you pronounce it?
His full name is Nikhil Ravishankar. Pronounced “nih‑KEEL rah‑vee‑SHAN‑kar.”
When did Nikhil Ravishankar start at Air New Zealand?
He joined the airline in 2021 as Chief Digital Officer and became CEO in October 2025.
What is the CEO’s educational background?
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) from the University of Auckland, plus an MBA from INSEAD.
How does the CEO salary compare to other airline executives?
His base salary of NZ$1.3 million is lower than Greg Foran’s 2024 total of NZ$2.8 million, but bonus and equity incentives can bring total compensation close to that level.
Who was the previous CEO and why did he leave?
The previous CEO was Greg Foran, who stepped down after nearly six years to pursue other opportunities. His departure was announced alongside Ravishankar’s appointment.
What changes has the new CEO announced?
Ravishankar has outlined a strategy to aggressively win back market share from Qantas, continue digital transformation of the loyalty program, and oversee the Boeing 787 Dreamliner retrofit and fleet expansion.
Is Nikhil Ravishankar married?
His marital status is not publicly confirmed, and this information is not available on official executive profiles or press releases.
What is the airline’s current financial performance?
Air New Zealand reported annual revenue of NZ$5.9 billion and a net profit of NZ$126 million for the 2025 financial year.