Origin head opts out and will leave in December

By IRENE CHAPPLE

Airline minnow Origin Pacific, a Qantas code share partner, said yesterday that its chief executive had resigned.

Tony Marks, former Air New Zealand commercial manager and Zespri chief executive, has quit the job he took in March and will leave the company in December.

The Nelson-based company's founder and owner, Robert Inglis, will take over as managing director.

Marks said he had agreed with Inglis not to comment.

A company statement quoted Inglis saying "following a review of our strategic direction and priorities, I have decided that we need to make some changes to our business base and our management structure".

Marks, who does not have a new job lined up, said he had left on good terms with the company.

Marks said he and his wife moved from Auckland to Nelson for the position and he wanted to stay in the area.

Origin Pacific, which has about 5 per cent of the domestic market, flies passenger and dedicated freight services.