Who’s who on the board

It’s been said the last thing an airline needs is too many airline people running it.

They need plenty of good businesspeople first, and then the good airline part naturally follows, so the theory goes. Air New Zealand has, at least until the pandemic, got that good airline/ good business balance right. There’s little previous airline experience, but a solid core of directors have been there for five to 10 years. Here’s the lineup:

Dame Therese Walsh

Appointed in 2016, chair since

2019. Recently became chair of

ASB and at the same time resigned as a Contact director. Previously had top roles in rugby and cricket world cups in 2011 and 2015. Formerly an auditor.

Jan Dawson

Appointed 2011. Chair of Westpac NZ and a director of AIG Insurance, Meridian Energy and World Sailing.

Rob Jager

Appointed 2013. Former head of Shell group of companies in NZ and more recently the VP of Shell Australia’s Prelude Floating LNG and wider East Browse assets offshore of Western Australia.

Linda Jenkinson

Appointed 2014. An entrepreneur who started three multinational companies, one of which listed on the NASDAQ. Most recently the cofounder of John Paul, a global concierge services and digital solutions company.

Jonathan Mason

Appointed 2014. Before joining board was Fonterra CFO and has 30 years’ experience in the financial sector.

Laurissa Cooney

Appointed 2019. Chair of Tourism Bay of Plenty, director, Goodman AWF Madison Group and trustee on the Charitable Investment Trust for Nga¯ i Tai ki Ta¯ maki.

Larry De Shon

Only member who has worked for an airline. Appointed April last year. Most recently head of Avis Budget Group; until 2006 he had 28 years with United Airlines where he held various executive roles.

Dean Bracewell

Appointed April last year. Former managing director of Freightways, director of Tainui Group Holdings, Property for Industry and the Halberg Foundation.