Christchurch Airport names Justin Watson as its new chief executive

Justin Watson will succeed the departing Malcolm Johns as the new chief executive of Christchurch Airport in New Zealand on January 1, 2023.

Watson, currently the airport’s chief aeronautical and commercial officer, was considered the best fit for the role after what the gateway called “months of extensive search” for a new leader.

Indeed, director and chair of airport’s People, Culture and Safety Committee, Sarah Ottrey, said the search for the new chief executive involved some exceptional candidates both onshore and offshore.

“Justin has been a key leader in this company’s strategy activation over the past decade and has particular strengths and experience in destination marketing, customer focus, working with our airline partners and understanding Christchurch,” said Ottrey.

“He will continue to build our proposition and reputation across these and our core strategic priorities.

“We are very proud of what our high performing team has achieved over what has been a very challenging decade. So many aspects of what the team does positively impacts our company, our community, our customers, our sector, our country and in some cases the global aviation sector. We know Justin will lead and support the team to keep doing that.

“Malcolm Johns will finish his time as our Chief Executive on 31 December 2022 and I take this opportunity to thank him for his service over the past nine years. We will formally farewell him in late February.”