New boss for Queenstown Airport
Queenstown Airport has announced its new CEO.
Shane O’Hare will replace outgoing chief executive Glen Sowry, taking the reins in September.
O’Hare has more than 40 years' experience in aviation, and has held a range of senior executive positions in Australia, New Zealand, Europe, the USA, and Middle East, including appointments at Melbourne Airport, Qantas Airways, Etihad Airways, Royal Jet Group, and Star Alliance. He also founded a regional airline, Seair Pacific Airlines, an award-winning tourism operation in Queensland, Australia.
He's currently CEO and a board director at Launceston Airport, Tasmania, where he has led the airport through the recovery from the global pandemic and overseen key infrastructure delivery and customer experience projects, as well as record passenger numbers and network expansion. He also implemented a strategy to enhance non-aeronautical revenue.
Queenstown Airport Corporation Chair Simon Flood says: “The board is very pleased to have appointed such a well-qualified business leader after a robust recruitment process. The calibre of applicants from New Zealand and overseas was extremely high. Shane brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record in the aviation and tourism industries, and is a people-focused leader.
“Queenstown Airport’s vision is to be an airport that people love to travel through, and the community takes pride in. We are undertaking the most significant capital delivery programme in the airport’s 90-year history. Shane has been responsible for multi-million-dollar budgets and large-scale infrastructure projects, and has demonstrated a strong commitment to authentic community engagement. He comes to Queenstown Airport with a reputation for leadership and delivery in complex stakeholder environments. The board and I are looking forward to working with Shane as he leads the organisation through its next phase."
O’Hare has family connections in the Southern Lakes and is looking forward to moving to Queenstown and starting the role in mid-September.
O’Hare says: “The Southern Lakes region is one of the most spectacular in the world. Queenstown Airport is a critical social and economic infrastructure asset for the region, and the country. The airport is entering an exciting phase, and I am very pleased to be joining the team, and I look forward to working with the board, executive, and wider team to deliver for shareholders and the community.”
O’Hare has also served on the boards of Tourism Tasmania and Visit Northern Tasmania, is a fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and holds an MBA from Bond University.
Queenstown Airport CEO Glen Sowry announced his resignation in October last year and will be leaving Queenstown Airport in June. The board of directors has appointed Todd Grace, Chief Operating Officer as Interim CEO for the period between June and September.
QAC is a council-controlled trading organisation (CCTO). The company is owned by one majority and one minority shareholder: 75.01% by the Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) and 24.99% by Auckland International Airport Limited (AIAL). QAC owns and operates Queenstown Airport, and manages Wānaka Airport and the Glenorchy airfield on behalf of QLDC.
