Queenstown Airport (QAC) has announced its new CEO.

Shane O’Hare will replace outgoing chief executive Glen Sowry, taking the reins in September.

Shane has more than 40 years' experience in aviation, and has held a range of senior executive positions in Australia, New Zealand, Europe, the USA, and Middle East, including appointments at Melbourne Airport, Qantas Airways, Etihad Airways, Royal Jet Group, and Star Alliance. He also founded a regional airline, Seair Pacific Airlines, an award-winning tourism operation in Queensland, Australia.

He's currently CEO and a board director at Launceston Airport, Tasmania, where he has led the airport through the recovery from the global pandemic and overseen key infrastructure delivery and customer experience projects, as well as record passenger numbers and network expansion. He also implemented a strategy to enhance non-aeronautical revenue.

“The board is very pleased to have appointed such a well-qualified business leader after a robust recruitment process," Queenstown Airport Corporation chair Simon Flood said.

"Shane brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record in the aviation and tourism industries, and is a people-focused leader."

“The board and I are looking forward to working with Shane as he leads the organisation through its next phase."

Shane said he is "very pleased to be joining the team.”

QAC CEO Glen Sowry announced his resignation in October last year and will be leaving Queenstown Airport in June. The board of directors has appointed Todd Grace, Chief Operating Officer as Interim CEO for the period between June and September.

QAC is a council-controlled trading organisation (CCTO). The company is owned 75.01% by the Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) and 24.99% by Auckland International Airport Limited (AIAL). It owns and operates Queenstown Airport, and manages Wānaka Airport and the Glenorchy airfield on behalf of QLDC.