Air New Zealand chairman John Palmer has confirmed Christopher Luxon will be appointed as the airline’s next chief executive.

Palmer said today Luxon will take over from current chief executive Rob Fyfe at the end of December.

Luxon is presently group general manager international airline and has held the role since joining Air New Zealand in May, 2011, following a successful career at Unilever in North America, Asia and Australia.

His most recent role there was president and chief executive officer of Unilever’s Canadian business.

Palmer said Luxon brings a wealth of international business experience to Air New Zealand and an exceptionally strong commercial and customer focus.

“Christopher has world class strategic, commercial, leadership and stakeholder management capabilities proven across multiple markets,” Palmer said.

“These have been highly evident to the Air New Zealand Board in the year that he has been with the company and we have seen him affect positive commercial outcomes in our toughest operating division.”

Luxon added that he feels exceptionally privileged to be given the opportunity to lead the world’s best airline and further build on its commercial success of the past decade.

“Rob Fyfe has done an incredible job transforming Air New Zealand and steering it through some of the most difficult trading conditions in modern history,” he said.

“I will take over an airline that has significant financial strength, some incredibly exciting commercial opportunities and 11,000 Air New Zealanders who are committed to being world class in everything they do.

Palmer said the board and Fyfe have in place a well planned transition period over the next six months to ensure a seamless transition.

Luxon will be able to use this time to get close to the parts of the business outside his current responsibilities and to access the key domestic and international aviation, investor and stakeholder relationships that are crucial to running a world class airline.