Air New Zealand appoints Michael Reed as new General Manager, Australia

Air New Zealand has appointed Mr Michael Reed to the new Sydney-based role of General Manager, Australia, effective from 5 January, 2004.

Mr Reed is currently the airline’s Regional Manager Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania, based in Melbourne.

He will succeed Mr Paul Donovan, Vice President Australia for Air New Zealand, who is making a lifestyle change and will semi retire next month after an airline industry career spanning 30 years.

Announcing the appointment today, Air New Zealand’s Group General Manager – Marketing and Network Sales, Mr Norm Thompson, said Mr Reed would lead the airline’s crucial Australian operations in a challenging new period for the travel industry.

“Michael Reed brings to his new role 20 years experience in the airline, retail travel and accommodation sectors in Australia,” said Mr Thompson. “He has been a key member of our Australian team during redevelopment of Air New Zealand over the past two years, and is well placed to take us forward into our next phase of development.

“I would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank Paul Donovan for his enormous contribution to the redevelopment of Air New Zealand following the events of 2001, and his leadership during the most challenging two year period which has followed.”

Mr Donovan also congratulated Mr Reed on his appointment.

“I have known and worked with Michael during the past 20 years, and I am delighted that he has been appointed to this role,” said Mr Donovan. “He has been closely involved in the running of our business in Australia since joining Air New Zealand early last year, and is now well placed to take the company forward in Australia.”

Mr Reed entered the hospitality industry in 1984 as Manager of the White Crystal Chalet at Mt Hotham, in the Victorian Alps, before becoming manager of the renowned Melbourne nightclub Madisons in 1985.

In 1986, he transferred to the newly-opened Hayman Island Resort in Queensland, continuing for five years in various sales, marketing and incentive development roles, before joining Ansett Australia in Melbourne as National Account Manager – Agency.

Prior to joining Air New Zealand early last year, Mr Reed was national distribution manager for the former Ansett – Air New Zealand Group. He was also a Director and Chairman of Sabre Pacific in Australia and New Zealand between 1996 and 1999.

Mr Reed’s successor as Regional Manager Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania for Air New Zealand is yet to be announced.