Hong Kong, Oct. 18 -- President and CEO of retailing giant Walmart U.S., Greg Foran, was announced as the new head of Air New Zealand (Air NZ) on October 11. Foran began his career packing boxes at a supermarket chain in Hamilton, New Zealand and has spent his working life in retailing.

Kiwi-born, he joined Walmart in 2011 from Woolworths and initially ran Walmart China, based in Hong Kong. He moved to the U.S. in 2014 to take charge of the retailer across the U.S. He is credited with transforming the North American business of 4,600 stores staffed by one million employees.

Foran will start in early 2020 he will be dealing with falling international passenger traffic and a global economic slowdown.

Former Air NZ CEO, Christopher Luxon, s...