Air New Zealand names former Air India CEO Campbell Wilson to board

NEW DELHI: Air New Zealand has appointed outgoing Air India CEO and managing director Campbell Wilson as a director on its board, marking his return to the New Zealand carrier after more than three decades in aviation.

Wilson, who has been leading Air India’s transformation under the Tata Group, is set to step down from the airline in September. Air India had announced his resignation in April.

In a regulatory filing on Wednesday, Air New Zealand said Wilson and former airline executive Robert McDonald had been appointed to its board, subject to their re-election by shareholders at the airline’s Annual Shareholders’ Meeting on September 24.

Wilson is a New Zealand native and has more than three decades of experience in the aviation industry. Before joining Air India, he held several senior executive positions at Singapore Airlines.

He has also served on the board of the International Air Transport Association and as a Board Executive Committee member of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines and Star Alliance.

Wilson had previously indicated that he did not plan to take up another full-time airline executive role after leaving Air India. He said he was looking at advisory board roles and opportunities to mentor younger professionals.

Air New Zealand currently has seven board members, including chair Dame Therese Walsh. Board member Larry De Shon is due to retire next month.

Meanwhile, Air India has appointed former Ethiopian Airlines Group chief Tewolde Gebremariam as its next CEO and managing director. He is scheduled to succeed Wilson as the airline continues its transformation and expansion under the Tata Group.