Lofty praise for a high-flying executive

Air New Zealand boss Ralph Norris, who is leaving the company and is off to Australia to take on a banking role. Pictures / Dean Purcell

There may not be too many New Zealand bosses who are farewelled by their staff through the means of a two-storeyed message from a neighbouring office block.

"Thanks Ralph for the Inspiring Journey!" read the metre-high letters placed in the windows of Air NZ offices in a building across the street from the Quay Tower corporate headquarters.

Stories abound of the changes in culture and morale brought about during Norris' three-and-a-half years as chief executive and managing director.

He leaves the airline next week and takes over the job of chief executive of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia in late September.

"I leave feeling very satisfied. I think the satisfaction is in direct proportion to the size of the challenge. This challenge was a huge challenge and it was made easier by working with some really good people."

Asked how different things might have been had he taken over at the helm of a stable, financially successful Air NZ, Norris says that could never happen - he would never have signed up for such a task.

"I would never have taken it over. The only reason I took the job on was that the board couldn't find an external candidate that met their requirements, so I stepped in to fill the breach."

He is not being drawn on any successor for his job, or say when any announcement might be made, saying that is for the board, not him, to announce.

He was similarly coy about any messages or ideas he intended to pass on to his successor.

"I think that it's probably appropriate for me to pass those on to whoever my successor is personally - than through the newspaper."

Norris says the challenge of his new job means his only remaining connections with New Zealand will be personal : his beach home, two daughters and two grandchildren. He is cutting all business links with this country, saying he expects his new job to "be all-consuming, especially in the first year or two."

"I'm not going to be able to spread myself across on to this side of the Tasman at the same time."