Jim McCrea was one of that increasingly rare breed - the one-company man.
Born in New Zealand 60 years ago, he received most of his early schooling in Canada. At 17 he joined Air NZ's forerunner, Tasman Empire Airways Ltd, as an engineering apprentice.
He spent the next 26 years moving up the ranks, becoming chief executive in 1991 and a board member the following year.
Mr McCrea was paid $1,114,082 in the year to June 1999. His June 2000 earnings will not be disclosed until the company's 2000 annual report is issued later this year.
However, shareholders may have to wait a further year to find out the size of the golden parachute he will almost certainly receive, as he left after the company closed off its books on June 30.
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