With 27 years in the energy, transport, telecommunications, mining services and medical technology industries, Graeme Sumner has been appointed the new Airways New Zealand Chief Executive.

Sumner is currently Managing Director of Advanced Braking Technology based in Melbourne. Prior to this Graeme held CEO roles with Service Stream, Melbourne and Transfield Services in Auckland. 

In announcing the appointment, Airways New Zealand Chair Judy Kirk said that to be able to recruit someone of Sumner’s calibre who is so internationally known and respected … “gives the Board and I enormous confidence that he will continue to strengthen the business and ensure safety and our people remain a priority”.

“I have no doubt that one of Graeme’s first undertakings as CEO will be getting out and about meeting the people who make Airways such a great place,” Kirk said.

Commenting on the appointment NZALPA ATC Director Jim Dunn said: “We appreciate that Graeme isn’t an air traffic controller by trade but he appears to be a man of great technical experience. We are looking forward to meeting with him and finding ways to better collaborate across a range of issues.”

Although having lived in Melbourne for the last seven years, New Zealand-born Sumner has also served as Managing Director of Siemens Ltd in New Zealand and in senior positions at IBM, Telecom New Zealand, Contact Energy, New Zealand Post and its subsidiary companies, SkyRoad and Kiwimail.

He was also Chairman of New Zealand Post’s joint venture airfreight company, AirPost Ltd.

Sumner will be based in the Airways office in Auckland beginning Monday 9 October.