Air NZ’s Cam Wallace resigns

3rd September 2020 By Shannon Williams | shannon@tourismticker.com | @tourismticker

Air New Zealand chief commercial and customer officer Cam Wallace has resigned.

After 19 years with airline, Wallace steps away from his full time role on 30 September, but would continue to provide consultancy support to chief executive Greg Foran until the end of 2020.

The airline would not be moving immediately to replace Wallace’s role and in the interim Foran would take responsibility for leading the commercial and customer functions.

Cam Wallace

Wallace has held a variety of senior and executive roles, with the national carrier including group general manager NZ and Pacific, and general manager, Australia.

In his current role, he was responsible for generating Air NZ group revenue, passenger and cargo, of $6bn.

He was in charge of the airline’s loyalty business, the commercial division – including all revenue management functions, the global cargo operation including P&L of the business, retail and brand marketing/market development globally, internal and external communications, alliances, tourism and cultural affairs, worldwide distribution, all channels and international markets.

Wallace’s departure follows that of a number of other senior executives including chief strategy networks and alliances officer, Nick Judd, who left the airline at the end of May and is set to join Tourism Holdings as chief financial officer at the end of the month

In a statement to the NZX Foran said: “Under Cam’s leadership, Air New Zealand’s passenger, cargo and loyalty revenues have experienced unparalleled growth over the past six years.”

“He has been instrumental in developing new market opportunities, growing strategic alliance partnerships, expanding the loyalty footprint, and driving profitable growth throughout the airline’s business.

“Cam has advised me today that given the airline is now effectively a domestic carrier for the foreseeable future that he is resigning to pursue opportunities that meet his global career ambitions,” he said.

“On behalf of the executive and the board I would like to thank Cam for the contribution he has made over the past 19 years, especially throughout the course of 2020 as the airline has grappled with unprecedented challenges thrust upon it by Covid-19.

“His global revenue generation experience and deep customer centricity have been critical to our efforts to ensure our airline has a viable future.”

Wallace added: “I will miss the special people that work at this innovative airline. The business is well set up for the future. ⁦I will be cheering from the sidelines.”