'First class comms': Praise for departing Air NZ executive Cam Wallace

Cam Wallace, the Air NZ executive who has largely been the public face of the airline during the coronavirus pandemic, has resigned. Air NZ CE Greg Foran said the chief commercial and customer officer, who had been at the airline for 19 years, would not be immediately replaced. “Cam has advised me today that given the airline is now effectively a domestic carrier for the foreseeable future that he is resigning to pursue opportunities that meet his global career ambitions,” Foran said. Wallace leaves Air NZ on September 30 and will provide consultancy support to Foran until the end of 2020. Up until recently Wallace held the role of chief revenue officer and was touted as a possible replacement for previous Air NZ CE Christopher Luxon, who left the company in late 2019 to pursue a career in politics. Instead, Foran, the former president of Walmart US, was given the top job. Foran had no previous aviation experience and, since starting in the role in February, has been faced with the worst financial crisis ever to have hit the aviation sector and Air New Zealand. Following an exodus of executives from the leadership team Wallace’s role expanded from chief revenue officer to chief commercial and customer officer. His role oversaw the management of about 1500 to 2000 staff.<br/>