Air NZ entices Walmart US boss Foran home to lead airline

Air NZ named Walmart US boss Greg Foran as its new CE Friday, bringing him back home at a time the airline is trying to control costs in a lower-growth environment. New Zealand-born Foran is credited with turning around Walmart's US business as its president and CE since 2014, with the unit reporting 20 quarters of comparable sales growth under his leadership. Air NZ chairman Therese Walsh said the carrier was "thrilled to have attracted a world class Kiwi back home." Grant Williamson, investment adviser at Hamilton Hindin Greene in Christchurch, said snagging Foran was a coup for the carrier. "In the short term, it's not going to have a major impact on earnings...but in terms of someone to have a steady hand on the wheel for Air NZ going forward, I don't think they could do much better," Williamson said. <br/>