Air NZ chooses Qantas executive

By Phil Boeyen, ShareChat Business News Editor

Wednesday 13th September 2000

Air New Zealand has appointed the deputy chief executive of Qantas - Gary Toomey - to head the airline.

The Air NZ CEO position has been vacant since the sudden departure of long-time airline staff member, Jim McCrea.

Air NZ chairman, Selwyn Cushing, has been acting as executive chairman while the airline searched for Mr McCrea's replacement. He says the company is delighted it has secured Mr Toomey.

"I have had the opportunity to observe his skill during the time he served as an alternate director on the board of Air New Zealand, when Qantas was a shareholder in our company, and, more recently, from a distance as a business competitor. He impressed me on both counts."

Mr Toomey is 45-years old and has worked for a number of Australian companies including Arnotts and Australian Airlines, and is also a director of ANZ Bank. He joined Qantas as finance director in 1993, and was made deputy chief executive in 1998.

Mr Toomey says he is looking forward to the fresh challenges ahead.

"The challenge of moving to a lead role in a significant airline business that's got its roots in Australia and New Zealand and is determined to grow its international competitiveness was irresistible," he says.

Mr Toomey will take up the Air New Zealand top job in December.

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