Nikhil Ravishankar: From Auckland Student to Air New Zealand CEO
The tech leader who moved from Bengaluru to Auckland as a teenager and later took charge of New Zealand's national airline.
Introduction
Nikhil Ravishankar is the Chief Executive Officer of Air New Zealand. He became CEO on 20 October 2025 after serving as the airline’s Chief Digital Officer. His earlier career included senior technology and leadership roles at Vector, Accenture and Telecom New Zealand, now Spark.
Nikhil Ravishankar didn’t follow the usual airline career.
He came through computing first.
Then telecoms. Consulting. Energy. Digital work.
Now he runs Air New Zealand.
His rise stands out because much of his working life was spent outside aviation. He joined Air New Zealand in 2021 during its post-Covid rebuilding period and moved into the CEO job four years later.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Nikhil Ravishankar |
| Profession | Business and technology leader |
| Current role | Chief Executive Officer of Air New Zealand |
| CEO since | 20 October 2025 |
| Joined Air New Zealand | September 2021 |
| Previous Air NZ role | Chief Digital Officer |
| Former companies | Vector, Accenture, Telecom New Zealand/Spark |
| School | Mt Albert Grammar School |
| University | University of Auckland |
| Education | BSc in Computer Science and BCom (Honours) |
| Childhood city | Bengaluru, India |
| Industry | Aviation |
| Known for | Leading Air New Zealand and his background in technology |
Who Is Nikhil Ravishankar?
Nikhil Ravishankar is a New Zealand business and technology executive who currently serves as CEO of Air New Zealand.
He was announced as Greg Foran’s successor in July 2025 after the airline carried out an international search.
Ravishankar was already working inside Air New Zealand.
That gave him something outside candidates didn’t have.
He knew the airline’s systems, staff and post-Covid problems. He had been serving as Chief Digital Officer since 2021.
He formally became CEO on 20 October 2025.
What Is Nikhil Ravishankar’s Current Job?
As of September 2026, Nikhil Ravishankar is the Chief Executive Officer of Air New Zealand.
He is responsible for the airline during a difficult period involving aircraft availability, higher fuel costs and pressure on earnings.
Air New Zealand has also been working under a refreshed company plan called Te Pae Hou — Our Future.
The airline’s goals include better reliability, stronger customer service, controlled growth and tighter cost management.
So his job right now is pretty clear.
Get the airline performing better.
Nikhil Ravishankar Early Life
Ravishankar spent his childhood in Bengaluru, India.
He moved to Auckland at around age 15.
That was a big change.
In an interview with the New Zealand Herald, he spoke about how quiet Auckland felt compared with Bengaluru.
He entered sixth form at Mt Albert Grammar School.
At first, he had to adjust to a new country, different classmates and a different way of life.
Cricket helped.
Ravishankar played the sport and described himself as a useful off-spin bowler. It gave him an easy way to meet people at school.
His interest in computers had already started in India.
He had the chance to learn programming while still at school, and his mother encouraged that interest.
That soon turned into a career.
Nikhil Ravishankar Education
Nikhil Ravishankar studied at the University of Auckland.
He earned:
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
- Bachelor of Commerce with Honours
The mix suited the work he later moved into.
He didn’t stay only in coding.
He moved toward business systems, technology planning, consulting and senior management.
His link with the university continued later in his career through the University of Auckland’s Centre of Digital Enterprise advisory board.
How Did Nikhil Ravishankar Start His Career?
Ravishankar’s early work included tutoring in university programming and working as a research assistant.
Then he tried a business idea.
A pretty early one.
In the late 1990s, he and two colleagues worked on technology that aimed to let people watch television on mobile phones.
This was years before smartphones became normal.
Their company tried to make mobile television work over 2G networks.
The business didn’t become a long-term success.
But the experience helped push Ravishankar toward the telecommunications industry.
That eventually led to Telecom New Zealand.
Nikhil Ravishankar Career at Telecom New Zealand
Ravishankar worked in technology and business-change roles at Telecom New Zealand, later known as Spark.
One of his senior positions was Head of Technology Strategy.
This gave him experience inside a large New Zealand company with major technical systems and infrastructure.
His work was moving away from programming itself.
He was now dealing with bigger questions.
How should large companies use technology?
How should systems change?
How should teams handle major business shifts?
Those questions followed him into later jobs.
Nikhil Ravishankar at Accenture
Ravishankar later joined Accenture.
He spent about six years with the consulting firm and worked across New Zealand, Australia and Hong Kong.
He rose to become Managing Director of Accenture New Zealand.
He also sat on Accenture’s global advisory council for its telecommunications and media practice.
The role gave him experience across several markets and large corporate clients.
It also moved him deeper into senior management.
Nikhil Ravishankar at Vector
Vector appointed Ravishankar as its Chief Digital Officer in 2017.
The position took effect on 8 February.
It was a newly created role.
At Vector, he worked across digital systems and IT while the energy industry was changing through new technology and smarter networks.
His work received industry attention.
In 2018, CIO ranked him No. 15 in its CIO100 list.
Vector also worked with Soul Machines on a digital teacher called Will, built to teach schoolchildren about renewable energy.
Ravishankar was involved in the company’s wider push into digital services and new technology.
When Did Nikhil Ravishankar Join Air New Zealand?
Nikhil Ravishankar joined Air New Zealand in September 2021 as Chief Digital Officer.
His appointment had been announced a few months earlier.
The timing was tough.
International aviation had been hit hard by Covid restrictions.
Air New Zealand had to restart routes, rebuild customer demand and get its systems ready for normal travel again.
Ravishankar became part of that work.
Air New Zealand later credited his time as Chief Digital Officer with work across:
- the Covid restart
- customer systems
- technology platforms
- loyalty services
- digital operations
He also pushed the view that technology shouldn’t sit inside one isolated IT department.
It had to be part of everyday airline work.
When Did Nikhil Ravishankar Become Air New Zealand CEO?
Nikhil Ravishankar became CEO of Air New Zealand on 20 October 2025.
His appointment had been announced on 30 July 2025.
The airline had run an international search for Greg Foran’s successor.
Yet the person chosen was already working inside the company.
That made the appointment interesting.
Ravishankar had airline knowledge, but he also brought years of experience from technology, consulting and energy.
His former school was part of his formal welcome too.
A choir from Mt Albert Grammar took part in the occasion.
The teenager who had once arrived in Auckland from Bengaluru was now running one of New Zealand’s best-known companies.
What Is Nikhil Ravishankar Working on at Air New Zealand?
Nikhil Ravishankar‘s early period as CEO has been shaped by some tough business problems.
Air New Zealand has dealt with aircraft engine shortages, higher fuel costs and weaker financial results.
For the year ended 30 June 2026, the airline reported a NZ$336 million pre-tax loss.
The company is now working under Te Pae Hou — Our Future.
The plan focuses on:
- improving reliability
- better customer service
- controlled growth
- stronger cost discipline
- improving airline performance
That is the job in front of Ravishankar now.
Not theory.
Results.
Nikhil Ravishankar and Technology
Technology is still a big part of Ravishankar’s work.
That’s hardly surprising.
His career started with computing and later moved through telecoms, consulting, energy and airline systems.
He has spoken about using AI inside airline operations.
But he has also recognised its limits.
Software can’t fix every airline problem.
It can’t instantly solve high fuel costs.
It can’t return grounded aircraft to service.
And it can’t remove every external cost pressure.
His public comments have generally kept that line clear.
Use tech where it helps.
Don’t pretend it fixes everything.
Nikhil Ravishankar’s Views on Tourism
Ravishankar has spoken about Air New Zealand as more than a normal company.
New Zealand is geographically isolated.
Air links matter for tourism, business and overseas connections.
He has spoken about attracting higher-value international visitors and encouraging people to return to New Zealand rather than treating it as a once-only destination.
He has also raised concerns about rising airport charges.
Those issues now sit directly in front of him as CEO.
Nikhil Ravishankar Salary
Official information on Nikhil Ravishankar’s pay appears in Air New Zealand’s 2026 annual report.
For his period as CEO from 20 October 2025 to 30 June 2026, the report lists:
- Base salary earned: NZ$1,291,154
- Benefits: NZ$57,722
- Total remuneration earned: NZ$1,348,876
- Short-term incentive earned: NZ$0
Air New Zealand suspended its short-term incentive scheme for FY2026 because of the company’s financial performance and operating conditions.
These figures come from company reporting.
Nikhil Ravishankar Net Worth
There is no reliable public financial record establishing Nikhil Ravishankar’s personal net worth.
So a specific net worth figure shouldn’t be presented as fact.
His official Air New Zealand remuneration can be reported because it appears in the company’s annual report.
Anything beyond documented pay or disclosed holdings would need stronger evidence.
Is Nikhil Ravishankar Married?
Reliable public reporting does not give enough verified detail to responsibly publish a spouse’s identity.
What can be confirmed is that Ravishankar has two young children.
He referred to travelling with children while discussing Air New Zealand’s Skycouch product in 2026.
His wider family life is not a major part of his public business profile.
Awards and Recognition
Ravishankar received industry recognition during his time at Vector.
His No. 15 position in the 2018 CIO100 is one of the clearer examples.
He has also been connected with education and professional groups, including the University of Auckland’s Centre of Digital Enterprise.
Earlier professional records have linked him with New Zealand Asian Leaders, the Blues Foundation and AUT-related networks.
Today, though, most public attention around him comes from Air New Zealand.
Why Is Nikhil Ravishankar Well Known?
Nikhil Ravishankar is best known for becoming CEO of Air New Zealand after building most of his career in technology.
That is the part people tend to search.
He didn’t spend decades working his way through airline operations.
Instead, his path ran through computers, telecoms, consulting, energy and digital systems.
Then came aviation.
And eventually the CEO job.
A Tough First Period as CEO
Ravishankar took over during a difficult time for Air New Zealand.
Aircraft shortages hurt capacity.
Fuel costs rose.
Financial pressure increased.
So his first years in charge are likely to be judged less by big announcements and more by actual airline performance.
Can more aircraft return to service?
Can reliability improve?
Can costs come down?
Can earnings recover?
Those are the real tests.
Final Thought
Nikhil Ravishankar took an unusual route to the top of Air New Zealand.
He started with computing.
Then came telecoms, consulting, energy and airline technology.
Now he runs the airline itself.
His move from Bengaluru to Auckland as a teenager, followed by study at the University of Auckland and senior work across several major companies, explains much of his professional path.
But the CEO job changes the standard.
Now the numbers matter.
Reliability matters.
Customers matter.
And Air New Zealand’s performance will say more about his leadership than any title on a CV.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Nikhil Ravishankar?
Nikhil Ravishankar is the Chief Executive Officer of Air New Zealand.
What is Nikhil Ravishankar’s current job?
He is the CEO of Air New Zealand.
When did Nikhil Ravishankar become Air New Zealand CEO?
He became CEO on 20 October 2025.
What did Nikhil Ravishankar do before becoming CEO?
He served as Air New Zealand’s Chief Digital Officer from 2021.
Where did Nikhil Ravishankar study?
He studied at the University of Auckland.
What degrees does Nikhil Ravishankar have?
He holds a BSc in Computer Science and a BCom with Honours.
Where did Nikhil Ravishankar grow up?
He spent his childhood in Bengaluru, India, and moved to Auckland at around age 15.
Did Nikhil Ravishankar work at Vector?
Yes. He became Vector’s Chief Digital Officer in 2017.
What is Nikhil Ravishankar’s salary?
Air New Zealand reported NZ$1,348,876 in total remuneration for his CEO period from 20 October 2025 to 30 June 2026.
