Air New Zealand's North Asia GM Based In Shanghai

Air New Zealand has appointed Charles Phelps-Penry to the newly created role of regional general manager for North Asia.

Based in Shanghai, Phelps-Penry will be responsible for directing the commercial activities including sales, marketing, cabin crew and airport functions across Greater China, as well as India, Taiwan, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia.

With a track record in aviation spanning more than 20 years and over 10 years working in Asia, Phelps-Penry most recently held the position of regional general manager for Asia Pacific at Etihad Airways in the United Arab Emirates, assisting the development and strategic growth of its airline business. Phelps-Penry began his airline career at British Airways in 1984, with a range of management roles in airport, sales and cargo in Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Africa. After three years in Korea, in 1991, he was transferred to Beijing, as general manager for China, a position he held for six years. In 2000, Phelps-Penry took up the position of managing director for National Jet Italia SpA. This was followed with positions as service director for Airflow Development Ltd in Britain and the project director for Indonesia Airlines in Jakarta.