NRL star Kieran Foran’s father has a new role at Air New Zealand

The father of Canterbury Bulldogs star Kieran Foran is heading back from the US to take a new role across the ditch from Australia.

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Canterbury Bulldogs star Kieran Foran’s father is heading back from the US to take a new role across the ditch from Australia.

Greg Foran has just been appointed as chief executive of Air New Zealand.

He is currently the President and Chief Executive of Walmart in the US.

In statement today, Air NZ chair Dame Therese Walsh said they were “thrilled to have attracted a world-class Kiwi back home”.

“Greg has an impeccable track record in delivering strong commercial performance, outstanding customer focus and in building teams that can take a business to the next level,” she said.

Kieran, who plays as a five-eighth and halfback for the Bulldogs has previously spoken with nothing but praise for his father and his successful business career.

Kieran Foran of the Bulldogs and Alexander Glenn of the Broncos post match during the round 25 NRL match between the Canterbury Bulldogs and the Brisbane Broncos. Picture: AAP

When he moved to the US for the top job at Walmart in 2011, he said: “He’s worked his ass off to try and get in that sort of position and I couldn’t be more over the moon for him.’’

Mr Foran, 58, oversaw Walmart’s 4600 stores and more than a million staff. It is one of America’s most lucrative companies based on profit.

Kieran Foran of the Bulldogs tackles David Fifita of the Broncos during the Round 25 NRL match between the Canterbury Bulldogs and the Brisbane Broncos. Picture: AAP

He led Walmart’s shift so its 4,700 stores were cleaner and easier to shop in, Bloomberg reports.

Under his leadership, Walmart experienced three years of increases in quarterly same-store sales.

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Greg Foran, Kieran Foran’s father, who has a new role. Picture: Supplied

He said today he was a “proud Kiwi” and was looking forward to working at the airline.

“I am an incredibly proud Kiwi and to be given the job of nurturing and building on the legacy of an iconic company that represents the best of our nation at home and around the world really excites me,” he said.

“Air New Zealand is deservedly recognised as one of the world’s great airlines and I look forward to working alongside its people to take it to the next level.”

Mr Foran will replace outgoing CEO Christopher Luxon, who recently retired.

He will take up the position of CEO in the first quarter of 2020.

Air New Zealand is 49 per cent owned by the New Zealand government and is part of its plan to increase tourism and trade.