Find out more about our executive management team. Scroll down the page to view each profile.
Mr Rob Fyfe
Chief Executive Officer
Rob joined Air New Zealand at the start of 2003 as Chief Information Officer and led the Business Transformation team. Rob then held the position of Group General Manager Airlines from October 2003 until his appointment as Chief Executive Officer in October 2005. Prior to joining Air New Zealand, Rob held a range of Senior Management positions both within New Zealand and overseas, including roles with the National Australia Bank, Bank of New Zealand, Telecom NZ and ITV Group in the UK.
Mr Norm Thompson
Deputy Chief Executive Officer
Norm Thompson joined Air New Zealand in 1968. He currently holds the role of Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Air New Zealand and is the Chairman of the Tourism Industry Association of New Zealand, the Air New Zealand Environment Trust, Altitude, the New Zealand Tourism Exchange and TAE. He is also a board member of UNICEF New Zealand. Some of the key roles Norm has held at Air New Zealand prior to be being appointed to his current role include Group General Manager Short Haul Airlines (accountability for Domestic, Tasman and Pacific operations), Group General Manager Marketing, Network and Sales, Regional General Manager The Americas and Regional General Manager New Zealand and Pacific Islands. Norm's recent executive education includes a business management programme at Stanford University in the United States and accreditation with the New Zealand Institute of Directors.
Mr Rob McDonald
Chief Financial Officer & Group General Manager Corporate
Rob started his finance career as a commerce graduate with a large Building Products company in 1980. He worked abroad before joining Coopers and Lybrand in the corporate advisory and valuation practice in 1985. Rob took up the position of Group Financial Planning Manager at Air New Zealand in 1993 and was appointed Group Treasurer in 1995. Upon the merger of Ansett and Air New Zealand Rob was appointed Vice President and Group Treasurer and in October 2004 was appointed as Chief Financial Officer of Air New Zealand. Robert graduated from Auckland University with a Bachelor of Commerce and is a member of the Accounting Institute of New Zealand and the Society of Corporate Treasurers. In 1999, Robert completed the Program of Management Development at Harvard Business School.
Mr Christopher Luxon
Group General Manager International Airline
Christopher joined Air New Zealand in May 2011 as Group General Manager International Airline following a successful career at Unilever in North America, Asia and Australia. His most recent role was President & CEO of Unilever Canada, based at the Toronto head office, where he was responsible for leading Unilever's $1.4 billion Canadian business and 1,500 employees. Christopher was also a key member of Unilever's North American Leadership Team. A New Zealander who graduated with a Master of Commerce in Business Administration from the University of Canterbury, Christopher began his Unilever career here as a management trainee in 1993.
Mr Bruce Parton
Group General Manager Shorthaul Airlines
Bruce has a Bachelor of Business degree from Massey University. He has worked in a variety of businesses, including 5 years for Coca-Cola in London in the logistics and supplier management field, and 3 years with Tegel Foods in New Zealand in logistics. He joined Air New Zealand in 1996. His roles include Logistics and Components management at ANZES, General Manager of Operations for the Airline, General Manager of the Pacific Airline (Australia, Pacific Islands and Domestic Jets), and General Manager Domestic Jet (737 Fleet and New Zealand Airports). His current role, Group General Manager Shorthaul Airlines, encompasses responsibility for all flights less than 5 hours in duration (Domestic Jet, Tasman and Pacific, Mt Cook, Air Nelson and Eagle Air), together with the sales region of Australia and New Zealand, online, call centres and revenue management.
Ms Vanessa Stoddart
Group General Manager People & Technical Operations
Vanessa Stoddart, who is a lawyer by profession, joined Air New Zealand in May 2003. She came from Carter Holt Harvey Packaging Australia, where she was the Chief Executive. Prior to heading CHH's packaging business, Ms Stoddart was the company's General Manager Performance Management with responsibilities for human resources and prior to that held change management and legal positions. Vanessa graduated from Otago University with both a Bachelor of Commerce & Bachelor of Law (Honours) and went on to complete a PostGrad Diploma in Professional Ethics before attending Insead Business School to undertake their Advance Management Programme. She is also a member of the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Directors.
Captain David Morgan
General Manager Airline Operations and Safety
David joined Air New Zealand in 1985 after a career in General Aviation. After flying various aircraft types on both line and training operations David joined the Flight Operations management team in March 1996. David has held various senior operational management positions and in March 2008, was appointed GM Airline Operations and Safety. In this role, David is responsible for determining the policy, procedures and standards by which our aircraft are operated, is accountable for the delivery of airline logistical support and for defining, implementing and reporting on operational safety. He also has Group emergency management and security responsibilities.
Mr Mike Tod
General Manager Marketing and Communications
Mike Tod joined Air New Zealand in 2003 and has responsibility for the airline's marketing and communications functions as well as its community relations and philanthropic activities. Mike was previously General Manager of Air New Zealand's award-winning Public Affairs team. He joined Air New Zealand from Fonterra where he had held the roles of Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer and Shareholder Communications Manager. Prior to these he held senior positions with Television New Zealand. Mike is a recipient of several media awards.
Mr Stephen Jones
General Manager Strategy
Stephen Jones joined Air New Zealand in May 2001. Initially joining as VP, Investor Relations Stephen has since held the roles of VP, Financial Planning, General Manager Business Performance, General Manager - Freedom Air, General Manager - Tasman Pacific Airline and General Manager of Air New Zealand's Domestic Airline. Stephen was appointed to his latest role as General Manager, Strategy for the Air New Zealand Group in January 2009. Stephen has a Bachelor of Engineering from the University of Auckland and prior to joining Air New Zealand spent 17 years in the oil and gas exploration and production industry in New Zealand, United States, Canada, Chile, Peru and Australia.
