Air New Zealand has disclosed changes to its senior leadership team, in the latest shake-up in recent months.
In a stock exchange filing on 23 September, the airline says its chief operating officer Alex Marren will be stepping down from the airline in March 2026.
Marren joined Air New Zealand in 2022 amid the coronvirus pandemic and had “played a pivotal role” in helping rebuild the airline’s operations post-pandemic. Marren is an industry veteran who has over 36 years of experience in the aviation and transport sector, including at United Airlines.
Air New Zealand states that it will “work through options” for Marren’s replacement in the coming months.
The carrier also announced the appointment of Jeremy O’Brien as its chief customer and digital officer, a role that was newly created following the promotion of current chief digital officer Nikhil Ravishankar to airline chief.
O’Brien, who is currently the airline’s acting commercial chief, joined the airline in 2016, and has held leadership roles in divisions such as sales, loyalty and marketing. He will assume his new position on 20 October, the airline adds.
Air New Zealand in January confirmed that former Qantas executive Scott Wilkinson will be appointed as its new commercial chief, taking over the portfolio from O’Brien.
The carrier now discloses that Wilkinson will also take charge of the loyalty portfolio when he joins on 7 October.
The airline in July announced the departure of current CEO Greg Foran, and the appointment of Ravishankar as its new CEO, from 20 October.
Foran has been at the helm of the airline since 2020, and has been credited with helping navigate the carrier through the pandemic and subsequent supply chain challenges.
