Senior management

Managing an outstanding company

Auckland Airport’s board of directors and executive team focus on ensuring the company is managed at the highest strategic level. They work to realise the company’s long-term corporate objectives, as it continuously strives to become the world’s most outstanding and welcoming Airport. As New Zealand’s busiest airport, it is one of our country’s largest infrastructure assets and is one of the biggest employers in the Greater Auckland region.

Meet our leadership team

Carrie Hurihanganui

Chief Executive, Auckland Airport

Carrie Hurihanganui has been Chief Executive of Auckland Airport since February 2022. Prior to joining Auckland Airport, Carrie was Chief Operating Officer at Air New Zealand, overseeing a global workforce of >9,000 across 16 countries at its peak.

Carrie has over 22 years of operational and strategic experience in the aviation industry, having held several senior roles at Air New Zealand, leading customer experience transformation, maximising business growth and building high performing and engaged teams.

She left the airline in 2017 to join National Australia Bank (NAB) based in Melbourne as Executive General Manager Customer Experience before returning in 2018 to the Chief Ground Operations Officer role, before transitioning into the Chief Operating Officer role in 2020.

Carrie is passionate about building a better future grounded in purpose and people. She has a Bachelor of Business Studies from Massey University and has completed a number of advanced programmes of study, including INSEAD and Harvard.

Melanie Dooney

Chief Corporate Services Officer

Melanie has leadership responsibility for health, safety and wellbeing, legal, people and capability, people services, public relations and government relations at Auckland Airport.

A proven people-leader, Melanie brings 20 years of experience in senior human resources and finance roles in New Zealand and internationally. Working across the manufacturing, IT and financial service sectors, she has previously been responsible for health & safety, employee experience, employment and industrial relations, organisational development, culture and communications.

Most recently she was Chief People Officer for Te Whatu Ora, Auckland District, where she led her team through the challenges of the pandemic and built the corporate head office People & Culture function for the newly created Te Whatu Ora.

Melanie holds a Master of Business Administration degree and a Master of Science in Biochemistry degree, both from the University of Otago.

Darren Evans

Chief Safety and Risk Officer, MSc MLitt DipOSH DBCI

Darren leads Auckland Airport's newly established Safety & Risk function, which includes responsibility for Operational Risk and Assurance, Occupational Health, Safety & Wellbeing, Enterprise Risk Management, and Emergency Planning, as well as supporting the safety and risk management of the complex aviation and infrastructure programmes underway to transform Auckland Airport.

He brings over 30 years of experience in safety and risk management across the aviation, infrastructure, and construction industries. Prior to joining Auckland Airport, Darren spent nine years as the General Manager of Safety & Aviation Medicine at Air New Zealand, a role that saw him drive a highly successful transformation of the airline’s capabilities, systems and performance, collecting several national awards as part of this journey. Prior to that Darren worked in senior safety, risk and resilience roles globally, including overseeing major infrastructures programmes across Australia, Asia, the Middle East and Africa, as well as managing risk on projects undertaken in remote, challenging and hostile environments.

Darren holds a Master of Science (MSc) degree in Business Continuity, Security, and Emergency Management (Organisational Resilience) from Buckinghamshire New University, and a Master of Letters (MLitt) Degree in Terrorism & Political Violence from St. Andrews University.

Susana Fueyo Suarez

Chief Infrastructure Officer

Susana leads the largest infrastructure upgrade in Auckland Airport’s history.

She brings 25 years of leadership experience and a track record of disciplined delivery in complex infrastructure projects, leading large-scale developments in transport and aviation around the world.

Susana’s key leadership roles in transport infrastructure development include the $10 billion North-South Corridor in Adelaide, and the $2.2 billion M80 Upgrade in Melbourne. Since her career beginnings as a graduate engineer with Rolls-Royce Aerospace, working on jet engines and propulsion systems, she has gone on to develop and deliver bespoke infrastructure, information, and communication technology and telco operational solutions for airports in over 180 locations globally, including defence bases and major civil airports in Australia. She also began the early works to develop and deliver the world's first joint Civil and Military Air Traffic Management System controlling Australia's air space.

Susana has a Master of Engineering from the University of Nottingham and a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from the University of Oviedo, Spain.

Stewart Reynolds

Acting Chief Financial Officer

Stewart is responsible for managing Auckland Airport’s financial affairs, corporate strategy, investor relations, business planning, procurement and aeronautical pricing. Stewart is also responsible for Auckland Airport’s hotel joint venture with Tainui Group Holdings and is a Director of both the Novotel and Pullman hotels.

Prior to stepping into the role of Acting Chief Financial Officer, Stewart led Auckland Airport’s Strategy, Planning and Performance team who are responsible for the management and reporting of the company’s corporate strategy, business performance, regulatory reporting, investor relations, corporate finance, treasury and internal audit functions.

Stewart joined Auckland Airport in 2016 and has an extensive background in local and international capital markets having worked as an investment banker in London, Sydney and Auckland. Stewart holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration from Victoria University and is a Chartered Accountant with The New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Chloe Surridge

Chief Operations Officer

Chloe is responsible for the operational performance of the airport system for millions of travellers that use the international and domestic terminals every year, including safety and security measures, efficient processes, and enhanced customer experience in close partnership with airport agencies and airlines.
Previously, Chloe was Air New Zealand’s Group General Manager Airports, a role overseeing 50 airports globally with a workforce of 2000. Other roles also include General Manager Supply Chain for Air New Zealand, CEO of Invercargill Airport and Hotel Director for Carnival Cruise Lines in the United States.
With over 20 years experience in senior leadership roles in the aviation and cruise industries, Chloe brings expertise in operational effectiveness and risk management, people leadership, customer service, stakeholder collaboration and workforce health, safety and wellbeing.

Scott Tasker

Chief Customer Officer, BSc (Technology)

Scott leads Auckland Airport’s customer and aeronautical commercial teams, focusing on customer experience and sustainably growing our airline capacity and network connectivity. He has more than 20 years’ experience in the travel industry, both in New Zealand and the United Kingdom, and has held a number of roles in airline sales, marketing and management with Emirates and Lufthansa.

Prior to joining Auckland Airport in February 2015 as a business development manager, Scott held leadership positions in the travel insurance industry with Cover-More Travel Insurance and the Healix Assistance Group. He was appointed our general manager aeronautical commercial in July 2017.

Mark Thomson

Chief Commercial Officer, BCom

Mark Thomson is responsible for Auckland Airport’s investment property, hotels, and retailing businesses including duty free, specialty retail, valet and car parking. He is also responsible for Auckland Airport’s hotel joint venture with Tainui Group Holdings and he is a Director of Queenstown Airport Corporation. Mark is currently a member of Property Council New Zealand’s National Board.

Mark has more than 25 years’ experience in real estate management and development, and he brings a wealth of experience in the transport and logistics sectors. Before joining Auckland Airport in April 2014, he was Director, Strategy Execution and Property (Asia) for Toll Global Logistics, responsible for a real estate portfolio spread across 12 countries including China, Singapore and India. Mark has a Bachelor of Commerce from Lincoln University and he has completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.

Mary-Liz Tuck

Chief Sustainability & Master Planning Officer, LLB (Hons), BCom

Mary-Liz has leadership responsibility for master planning, strategic capital planning, sustainability and transformation at Auckland Airport. Mary-Liz also is a trustee for the airport marae Te Manukanuka o Hoturoa, and on the advisory board for Ara, the job and skills hub for the Auckland Airport precinct, connecting South Auckland communities with jobs at and around Auckland Airport.

Mary-Liz joined Auckland Airport in February 2019 from Fisher and Paykel Appliances, where she held numerous leadership roles across business excellence, product quality, customer experience, operations and legal.

Prior to this Mary-Liz was a practicing commercial lawyer specialising in mergers and acquisitions, holding various senior roles in New Zealand law firms and at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in the United Kingdom.

Mary-Liz holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Auckland.

Richard Wilkinson

Chief Digital Officer - Pou Āpiha Matahiko

Richard is responsible for the strategy, delivery and execution of world class digital technology programmes at Auckland Airport.

With more than twenty years’ experience in large, complex, and high-profile digital environments across a range of industries, Richard joined the airport from Farmlands – a farming services co-operative, where he was Pou Āpiha Matahiko, Chief Innovation & Digital Officer.

Richard has also held senior technology leadership roles in organisations that have made a significant contribution to Aotearoa, including New Zealand Rugby, Fairfax Media/Stuff and Tourism New Zealand.

He has proven leadership skills in managing change both within the digital environment and across organisational cultures. Richard also brings a strong connection to Te Ao Māori, to his role at Auckland Airport.

Richard also is a trustee for the airport marae, Te Manukanuka o Hoturoa.