Greg Foran

Greg Foran
FinnishGovernment · CC BY 2.0 · source
Name	Greg Foran
Birth date	1958
Birth place	Auckland
Nationality	New Zealand
Occupation	Business executive
Years active	1980s–present
Known for	Leadership of Walmart U.S.; CEO of Air New Zealand

Greg Foran

Greg Foran is a New Zealand-born business executive known for leading major retail and aviation organizations. He has held senior roles across multinational corporations, overseeing operational transformation at Walmart U.S. and guiding strategic recovery at Air New Zealand. Foran's career spans roles in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States, engaging with major corporations, industry bodies, and government-linked institutions.

Early life and education

Born in Auckland in 1958, Foran grew up in New Zealand where he attended local schools before pursuing tertiary education. He completed a degree in business-related studies at a New Zealand tertiary institution and later undertook executive education programs linked to global business schools and corporate leadership initiatives. During his formative years he became involved with retail and distribution sectors prominent in Auckland and Wellington, positioning him for roles with multinational retailers operating in the Asia-Pacific region.

Retail career

Foran's retail career began with roles at prominent supermarket and retail chains operating in Australia and New Zealand, where he developed expertise in merchandising, supply chain, and store operations. He progressed through leadership positions at firms competing with regional players such as Coles Group, Woolworths Group (Australia), and Foodstuffs. Foran later joined global retailers with extensive footprints in North America and the Asia-Pacific, working alongside executives from Tesco, Carrefour, Metro AG, and Ahold Delhaize during an era of consolidation and digital disruption across retail sectors. His accomplishments in store growth, category management, and omni-channel initiatives attracted attention from multinational boards and investor groups focused on retail transformation.

Tenure at Walmart U.S.

In 2014 Foran was appointed president and CEO of Walmart U.S., one of the world's largest retailers and a flagship subsidiary of Walmart Inc.. During his tenure he worked closely with senior leaders from Walmart Inc. and engaged with counterparts at Amazon (company), Target Corporation, and Costco Wholesale Corporation amid intensifying competition in e-commerce and logistics. Foran led initiatives to modernize stores, expand grocery operations, and integrate online order fulfillment with physical distribution centers, collaborating with partners including Procter & Gamble, Unilever, and logistics firms such as UPS and FedEx. His leadership involved negotiations with labor organizations and regulatory authorities in the United States while coordinating strategies with technology partners from Microsoft and cloud providers used across retail platforms. Foran navigated the company through strategic investments in digital platforms, supply chain analytics, and partnerships aimed at rivaling innovations from Alibaba Group and JD.com in the global retail marketplace.

Air New Zealand leadership

In 2019 Foran returned to New Zealand to assume the role of chief executive officer at Air New Zealand, the national carrier with extensive routes across the Pacific, Australia, North America, and Asia. His appointment came amid global challenges affecting aviation, including shifting travel demand and regulatory changes led by aviation authorities such as the International Air Transport Association and civil aviation regulators in New Zealand and Australia. Foran oversaw fleet decisions involving aircraft manufacturers like Airbus and Boeing, managed relationships with global alliances and partner airlines such as Star Alliance, Qantas, United Airlines, and Cathay Pacific, and coordinated responses with airport authorities including Auckland Airport and Christchurch Airport. During his leadership the airline navigated crisis management, network restructuring, and customer experience initiatives coordinating with tourism stakeholders like Tourism New Zealand and trade unions representing airline staff.

Later career and board roles

After stepping down from executive roles, Foran moved into non-executive positions and advisory roles with corporations and institutions across New Zealand, Australia, and international markets. He has served on boards and advisory councils alongside leaders from financial institutions such as ANZ Bank, Commonwealth Bank, and corporate entities involved in transport, logistics, and retail technology. Foran's board work has intersected with entities focused on infrastructure and public-private partnerships involving ministries and agencies in Wellington and state authorities in Sydney and Melbourne. He has also participated in industry forums and think tanks alongside executives from BusinessNZ, chambers of commerce, and trade delegations engaging with counterparts in China, United States, and Europe.

Honours and recognition

Foran's contributions to business and industry have been recognized by trade groups and corporate award bodies in New Zealand and Australia, reflecting leadership in retail innovation and corporate turnaround. He has been profiled in business publications and invited to present at conferences hosted by organizations such as Harvard Business School executive forums, industry summits organized by McKinsey & Company, and corporate governance events featuring speakers from major multinationals. Foran's leadership during periods of organizational change earned acknowledgement from peers within retail and aviation sectors represented by associations including Retail NZ and aviation industry stakeholders across the Asia-Pacific.

Category:New Zealand business executives Category:People from Auckland