John Key quits Air NZ board
Sir John Key has resigned from the board of Air New Zealand with his last day being March 31.
Air New Zealand chairman Dame Therese Walsh said Key indicated earlier in 2019 that 2020 would possibly be his last as a director due to increasing commitments on his professional time in New Zealand and overseas.
Walsh said Key made a significant contribution to Air New Zealand.
‘‘Sir John’s outstanding commercial acumen, international perspectives and stakeholder network have been incredibly valuable to Air
New Zealand and we are fortunate to have had him as a member of our board,’’ Walsh said.
Key joined the airline’s board on September 1, 2017 after resigning as prime minister of New Zealand in 2016.
Key, 58, was considered a likely candidate to take over as chairman of Air New Zealand after former chairman Tony Carter retired in September 2019.
However, in July 2018 Air New Zealand’s board elected Walsh as Carter’s successor. Walsh has been a director at the airline since 2016.
In an Air New Zealand statement to the New Zealand stock exchange yesterday morning Key said it was not an easy decision to step away from his Air New Zealand directorship.
‘‘Air New Zealand is a world class company that all Kiwis can be proud of. The fortunes of the airline and our nation are inextricably linked, so having had the opportunity to support it firstly as prime minister and minister of tourism and then as a director has been fantastic,’’ Key said.