Greg Foran Explained

Birth Name:Gregory Stephen Foran
Birth Date:22 July 1961
Birth Place:New Zealand
Office1:CEO of Air New Zealand
Term1:February 2020 – present
Predecessor1:Christopher Luxon
Children:4, incl. Kieran Foran
Office2:President and CEO, Walmart U.S.
Term2:August 2014 – November 2019
Successor2:John Furner
Predecessor2:Bill Simon[1]
Office3:President and CEO, Walmart Asia
Term3:May 2014 – August 2014
Predecessor3:Scott Price
Successor3:Scott Price[2]
Office4:President and CEO, Walmart China
Term4:March 2012 – May 2014
Predecessor4:Ed Chan
Successor4:Sean Clarke

Gregory Stephen Foran (born 22 July 1961)[3] is a New Zealand businessman. He was previously CEO of the American division of Walmart, and is currently chief executive of Air New Zealand.

Early life and education

Foran was born on 22 July 1961 in New Zealand to two school teachers. He grew up in Hastings and Hamilton. There he attended Twyford School, St John's College in Hastings, St John's College in Hamilton, and Hillcrest High School, Hamilton.

Career

Woolworths

Foran started working as a shelf stacker at a supermarket in Hamilton. At age 20 he became a Woolworths manager, and by age 48 he was on track to become the next CEO of Woolworths Australia but missed out on the opportunity.

Walmart

Foran began working for Walmart in 2011. He became president and chief executive of Walmart China in March 2012.[4] In 2014, Foran was promoted to president and CEO of Walmart Asia[5] and in the same year transitioned to president and CEO of Walmart U.S. During this period he lived in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Foran would occasionally shop in Walmart undercover in order to better understand the experiences of customers and employees. According to Reuters, Foran is "credited with turning around Walmart's U.S. business by focusing on improving existing stores".[6] Foran raised Walmart's minimum gun-purchasing age to 21.

Air New Zealand

Foran became the CEO of Air New Zealand in February 2020, near the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.[7] [8] [9] As the new CEO, he proposed to hold a 100-day review of the business, which included asking employees and customers how the business could improve, and personally serving beverages to customers and cleaning planes.[10] The COVID-19 pandemic prevented the completion of the review; he had instead begun leading in "crisis management mode", announcing at one point that the company was expecting a 90% reduction in revenue.

Personal life

Foran has three sons and one daughter. His son, Kieran Foran, is a professional rugby league player.

In 2023, Foran was jokingly floated by The Spinoff as a potential future Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party, a reference to his predecessor, current National Party leader and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.[11]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Walmart U.S. Chief Leaving; Successor Headed Asian Unit.
  2. Web site: Walmart names new president and CEO of Walmart Asia.
  3. Web site: Shaw . Aimee . 11 October 2019 . Who is Air NZ's incoming CEO Greg Foran? . 10 December 2023 . . en-NZ . 10 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231210002738/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/who-is-air-nzs-incoming-ceo-greg-foran/TJC6JR2VJVQV7SICAN7U3VB6NM/ . live .
  4. Web site: Ex-Woolies exec to run Walmart China.
  5. Web site: Walmart names new Asia heads.
  6. Web site: 11 October 2019 . Walmart U.S. CEO Foran to exit and be replaced by Sam's Club boss Furner . 11 December 2023 . . 11 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231211001816/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-walmart-moves/walmart-u-s-ceo-foran-to-exit-and-be-replaced-by-sams-club-boss-furner-idUKKBN1WP37V/ . live .
  7. Web site: 11 October 2019 . New Zealander Greg Foran who heads Walmart moving to Air NZ CEO role . 10 December 2023 . RNZ . en-nz . 10 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231210012232/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/400738/new-zealander-greg-foran-who-heads-walmart-moving-to-air-nz-ceo-role . live .
  8. Web site: Sabin . Brook . 2 March 2020 . New Air New Zealand CEO, Greg Foran cleans planes . 10 December 2023 . Stuff . en . 10 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231210012232/https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/news/119965705/new-air-new-zealand-ceo-to-clean-planes . live .
  9. Web site: Anthony . John . 15 December 2019 . Air New Zealand's new boss Greg Foran to start in February with 100-day review . 10 December 2023 . Stuff . en . 10 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231210012234/https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/118221122/air-new-zealands-new-chief-executive-greg-foran-to-start-in-february-with-100-day-review . live .
  10. Web site: Anthony . John . 5 June 2020 . From Walmart wonderboy to Air New Zealand: How Greg Foran's handled a catastrophe . 10 December 2023 . Stuff . en . 10 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231210022012/https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/121733855/from-walmart-wonderboy-to-air-new-zealand-how-greg-forans-handled-a-catastrophe . live .
  11. Web site: Sowman-Lund . Stewart . 2023-10-25 . Who will lead Labour into the 2026 election? Our top picks (and some wildcards) . 2024-06-03 . The Spinoff . en.