Who Is Nikhil Ravishankar, The Indian-Origin Executive Taking Over As Air New Zealand CEO?
Indian-origin tech leader Nikhil Ravishankar has been appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Air New Zealand, effective 20 October 2025. Currently serving as the airline's Chief Digital Officer, he has spent nearly five years driving its digital transformation and will now succeed Greg Foran, who is stepping down after steering the carrier through the pandemic and recent supply chain challenges.
Under Ravishankar's leadership, Air New Zealand has upgraded its technology backbone, revamped its customer loyalty programme and strengthened digital offerings, positioning the airline for the next phase of growth.
Board Chair Dame Therese Walsh noted that Ravishankar stood out from a global candidate pool due to his digital acumen, leadership skills and alignment with New Zealand values, according to a report by Reuters.
Before joining Air NZ, Ravishankar held senior roles including Chief Digital Officer at energy company Vector New Zealand and Managing Director at Accenture, serving across Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand.
Ravishankar expressed gratitude and ambition: 'Airlines are complex, and safety underpins every decision we make," he was quoted as saying by NZ Herald. 'It's a privilege to lead an institution with such a legacy and future."
Air New Zealand operates more than 400 flights daily to 49 destinations with over 100 aircraft in its fleet. It's also deepening collaboration with Air India and both carriers have signed a bilateral codeshare agreement across 16 routes and plan to explore direct India–New Zealand flights by 2028, according to a report by the Economic Times.
Ravishankar's promotion marks a milestone as an Indian-origin tech leader elevated to helm one of the world's most recognizable airlines, reflecting broader industry trends favoring digital-first leadership in a rapidly evolving aviation landscape, Reuters said, citing aviation experts.
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