PM rates Norris as Air NZ's new boss

Prime Minister Helen Clark rates businessman Ralph Norris as an excellent chief executive despite their differences on Government policies.

Mr Norris, an independent director of the struggling airline for three years, has become the managing director and chief executive of Air New Zealand.

Helen Clark joked yesterday it was one of life's rich ironies that Mr Norris, a champion of free enterprise, was now running the effectively re-nationalised carrier.

"I am no longer commenting on Air New Zealand affairs but what I will say about Ralph is that while we have not always agreed on politics and policies, he is a very competent chief executive and did an excellent job at the ASB."

The Prime Minister ran into trouble last September when she suggested mum and dad shareholders hang on to their shares in the troubled airline, advice that saw its stock rise strongly.

Mr Norris was left off the Prime Minister's invitation list at a business forum the Government ran about 16 months ago.

At the time, Helen Clark said she had not detected much that was constructive from Mr Norris.

Yesterday she said that was correct as far as Government policy went.

"We've had our differences on policy but as a chief executive I know he's held in very high respect.

"Ralph would be seen as one of the country's top chief executives and I might say that on a personal level he is a very amiable, cheerful person, and I consider I've had a good relationship with him."

The Prime Minister understood Mr Norris had good staff relations at ASB.

"Traditionally, Air New Zealand has worked hard to have a partnership with its workforce and the unions and that's going to be very important in pulling the airline around," she said.

Mr Norris retired last September as ASB Bank managing director with the intention of focusing on his directorships and his golf, but now says he has missed the challenge of a CEO role and the opportunity of turning an organisation around.

- NZPA

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