Former CTU head among new directors of Air New Zealand

10.10 am

Air New Zealand today announced the appointment of four new directors to its board including former head of the Council of Trade Unions, Ken Douglas.

The other appointments are Jane Freeman, a director of Publicis NZ and until recently general manager of esolutions and new product development at Telecom, Warren Larsen, former Dairy Board chief executive and John McDonald, former treasurer of Fletcher Challenge Ltd.

Deputy chairman Jim Farmer, who was acting chairman during the airline's crisis last year, resigned from the board yesterday as did Elizabeth Coutts.

The appointments fill those vacancies and another two following the previously announced resignations of Singapore Airlines chief executive Cheong Choong Kong and Bill Wilson.

They bring the size of the board to eight.

Chairman John Palmer said the new directors brought a range of business experience and personal characteristics "reflecting substantial achievement in their respective areas of business".

"All of these are skills which will combine with the remaining directors to form a strong cohesive team at board level."

Dr Farmer publicly indicated late last year his wish to retire from the board at an appropriate time. He served for nearly 13 years and Mr Palmer paid tribute to him, "particularly during the past year when his leadership of the company through undoubtedly one of the most difficult periods in its history contributed substantially to its continued existence".

- NZPA