Air NZ appoints deputy CEO

Norm Thompson

Air New Zealand has appointed shorthaul executive Norm Thompson to the new position of deputy chief executive.

The airline had created the role to help the company keep growing after a significant amount of change across the company in the last year, chief executive Rob Fyfe said.

Mr Thompson has worked for Air NZ for 38 years, in New Zealand and overseas. He will take up the new role once a replacement shorthaul general manager is appointed.

The airline posted its best annual result in a decade last month, but faces domestic competition with the arrival of low cost Australian-based carrier Pacific Blue this year.

- NZPA