Webjet chair sharpens Tourism NZ board

3rd December 2018 By Staff Reporter | news@tourismticker.com | @tourismticker

Tourism minister Kelvin Davis has appointed Roger Sharp to fill the last remaining vacancy on Tourism New Zealand’s board following the departure of three members earlier this year.

Sharp is the chair of global digital travel business, Webjet and has more than 30 years’ experience in the travel and technology sectors and in capital markets reflecting “impressive CV and will bring an array of expertise and experience to the board.” 

Roger Sharp

He was officially appointed to the New Zealand Tourism Board, which governs TNZ, on 1 December. His term ends on 30 June 2021.

Deputy chair and full-time director Richard Leggat, Wellington businessman Christopher Parkin and tourism entrepreneur Raewyn Idoine all stood down from the agency’s board earlier this year, but up until now only two replacements had been announced.

These were Whale Watch Kaikoura’s Kauahi Ngapora and Te Arawa Group Holdings’ Colleen Neville who were announced in September.

At the time tourism minister Kelvin Davis said the two new appointments would “add tremendous value to the board as it works to increase the benefits to New Zealand from domestic and international tourism”.

“For these appointments, I was looking for people with commercial tourism experience, particularly in the regions, a connection to Māori tourism operators, and strong financial acumen,” said Davis.