Andy Bowley: Forsyth Barr Head of Research on Air NZ appointing Nikhil Ravishankar as new CEO

Air New Zealand's new CEO appointment isn't a shock within the sector, according to one expert.

Chief Digital Officer Nikhil Ravishankar will step up to replace Greg Foran in October.

Forsyth Barr Head of Research Andy Bowley says he's unsure whether this appointment suggests a lack of international interest.

"There's been a reasonable understanding that he was one of the leading - if not the leading - internal candidates. So in that regard, it's not necessarily a surprise."

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:09):
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Whither do to see?

Speaker 2 (00:18):
How that?

Speaker 3 (00:19):
By the way, In New Zealand's appointed its new CEO.
Nikel Ravishanka is the current Chief Digital Officer who's been
promoted up. He's going to take over in October when
Greg four and steps down. Andy Bowley is the head
of research at Full Syth bar Hey, Andy, Hi had
so well, thank you? He seems well like. Is he
a good appointment?

Speaker 2 (00:39):
Oh? I think you know, in this kind of situation,
when you appoint somebody internally, the board know him pretty well,
know his skill sets and therefore has confidence in him.

Speaker 3 (00:51):
Do you think it's a problem that he hasn't been
the CEO before.

Speaker 2 (00:56):
I don't think it's necessarily a problem that he hasn't
been a CEO before. You get plenty of very good
CEOs that are first time CEOs. I think in light
of some of the questions or conversations I've had from
Air New Zealanders since Greg Forum's resignation was announced, the

(01:17):
one thing that was repeatedly suggested to me is that
they need a new CEO with deep airline experience. So
I think, you know, the bigger question here is probably
less first time CEO, more around does he have the
airline experience that many in the business.

Speaker 3 (01:34):
Well, I mean this is a really good question, right
because he's not actually an aviation guy, and you could
argue that the role that he's been playing, which is
digital officer, is also it's not steeped necessarily in like
hardcore aviation. So what do you think?

Speaker 2 (01:50):
Oh, I think Nicky is in a better position than
Greg was when he comes into the role. You know,
Greg came into this business fresh into aviation and it
would have been a very very steep learning curve, not
least because of the challenges that Greg faced. So Nikkiell
was in a much better situation than Greg was in.

(02:14):
But again go back to trust the trust the process, trust,
trust the board in putting forward the best, the best candidate.

Speaker 3 (02:24):
Do you think the fact that he's been appointed would
suggest that there mustn't have been that much overseas interest
in it?

Speaker 2 (02:30):
Yeah, I don't, I don't know. You know, there's a
number of very capable, particularly New Zealanders, that are in
airline positions globally, and you know, typically this organization recruits
New Zealanders as its CEO.

Speaker 3 (02:48):
And so what do you make of the fact that
the share prices barely moved today? Was this Bakedan?

Speaker 2 (02:54):
I don't think it's a surprise that he's been named CEO.
I think there's been a reasonable understanding that he was,
you know, one of the leading, if not the leading,
internal candidates. So in that regard, it's not necessarily a surprise.
But you know, share share prices move on a variety
of factors, and this will be one factor that has

(03:15):
an influence on Air New Zealand today.

Speaker 3 (03:17):
Andy, good to talk to you. Thank you Andy Bowley.

Speaker 1 (03:19):
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