Air NZ appoints new CFO following resignation of airline veteran Jeff McDowall

Air NZ has named former staff member Richard Thomson as its replacement for outgoing CFO Jeff McDowall. Thomson, who has been CFO of listed retirement village operator Metlifecare for the past three years, is expected to take up his new role with Air New Zealand in early 2021. Thomson will be part of a new look executive team which, like the rest of the company, is a third smaller than what it was pre-Covid-19, reducing in size from nine to six. In May, as part of Covid-19 cost-cutting measures, CE Greg Foran let go long-serving executives Nick Judd, Mike Tod and John Whittaker. In September chief commercial and customer officer Cam Wallace resigned followed by McDowall’s resignation in October. McDowall has been at Air New Zealand for more than 20 years, with roles including acting chief executive. He will leave the airline after the completion of a planned capital raise in 2021.<br/>