Name: Chris Myers Title: Regional General Manager, Americas, U.K. and Europe Company, city: Air New Zealand; Los Angeles, Calif. Number of employees: 300 Recent project: Opened our fifth North American gateway, Houston, in December. First job: I began my career in finance at the Bank of New Zealand. Little-known fact about you: I coach two junior rugby teams through the Los Angeles Rugby Club, which is a rewarding way to give back to the local community.
Your Business
Essential business philosophy: My personal mantra is “Do what you love and love what you do.” Best way to keep a competitive edge: Read broadly, continually refine a long-term vision and focus on adaptable execution plans. Yardstick of success: I measure success by objective achievement. This is not always limited to commercial metrics; I enjoy pursuing ambitious goals, especially those others say are unattainable.
Chris Myers as a Traveler
What is the most important item you take when traveling? Bose noise-canceling headphones. How do you spend your time on board? I catch up on reading and always travel with three books: one on business, one on health and one that tells an engaging story. What is your favorite restaurant in the world? Memorable dining is as much about company as it is about food and atmosphere. I particularly enjoy the views and cuisine from The Shard in London. What is your favorite destination in the world? I adore the Pacific islands, especially Aitutaki in the Cook Islands.
About Air New Zealand
Tell us about Air New Zealand’s safety videos. Air New Zealand is well known for creative safety videos that present essential information with entertaining touches to capture passengers’ attention. Our first video, Bare Essentials of Safety, debuted in 2009. Since then we have produced a suite of videos that together have earned more than 65 million views. Recent collaborations include a Men in Black–inspired feature with New Zealand rugby legends, including the All Blacks. In 2014 we partnered with The Hobbit franchise to create the Most Epic Safety Video Ever Made, which included cameos from Sir Peter Jackson and Elijah Wood.
What can premium travelers expect from the Air New Zealand experience? Our Business Premier cabin is designed for quality relaxation and thoughtful comfort. Guests enjoy a wide leather armchair that converts into a fully lie-flat bed with a thicker mattress, duvet and full-size pillows for a proper night’s sleep. The culinary program features fresh, inventive dishes created by Chef Peter Gordon, complemented by premium New Zealand wines. Amenity kits include sustainable, certified-organic skincare products, sleep masks and socks. Our premium-economy cabin provides generous space and privacy, while refurbished Boeing 777-200 aircraft offer comfortable leather seats with individual arm and leg rests and extendable foot support. On Boeing 777-300s, customers experience the Spaceseat design, which prevents the person in front from reclining into your space. In-flight dining emphasizes authentic New Zealand flavors, and passengers can order snacks and beverages through the personal in-flight entertainment system. Entertainment options include around 1,800 hours of content via a personal touchscreen—movies, TV, music, sports, games and audiobooks.
What can travelers expect from the airline in 2016? This was an important year for our North American network. The expanded service between Houston and Auckland created convenient access for East Coast travelers, putting New Zealand within a three-hour connection for many U.S. cities. The Houston gateway also opened more opportunities for New Zealanders to visit Texas and for Americans to explore New Zealand, supporting increased tourism between the countries. In addition, we launched service between Buenos Aires and Auckland and introduced seasonal service between Auckland and Ho Chi Minh City from June through October. Our ongoing Pacific Rim strategy focuses on opening gateways, forming strategic alliances and evaluating additional long-haul routes to support continued growth.