AIA - Auckland Airport new board appointment

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Media Release | 30 January 2026
Auckland Airport new board appointment
The Auckland Airport board has announced the appointment of Sean Donohue who joins as a
new board director from today.
Mr Donohue was the Chief Executive of the world’s third busiest airport for passenger traffic,
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), from 2013 to 2025. He previously served as Chief
Operating Officer of Virgin Australia and prior to this he was Senior Vice President, Global
Operations, at United Airlines, where he spent 25 years working for the company.
Mr Donohue is currently a non-executive director of Dallas-based Atmos Energy Corporation, the
largest natural gas distributor in the United States. In 2025 he completed his service as both Co-
Chair of the World Economic Forum’s Aviation and Aerospace Governors Committee, and as an
executive committee member of the World Travel and Tourism Council.
Auckland Airport Chair Julia Hoare said: “We are delighted to be welcoming Sean Donohue to the
Board. His depth of experience in global aviation strategy and operations is highly aligned with
the direction and aspirations of Auckland Airport. Under Sean’s leadership Dallas Fort Worth
delivered US$7 billion in infrastructure improvements, strengthening resilience and improving
operational performance. Sean also championed DFW’s digital transformation, greatly improving
the customer experience, and oversaw projects enabling the airport to be carbon net zero by
2030.”
Mr Donohue said: “I’m really pleased to be reconnecting with New Zealand a decade on from my
role with Virgin Australia. My appointment to the board comes at a pivotal time for Auckland
Airport as it executes on its top-to-bottom transformation of its terminals and airfield. I’ve been
both an airline customer of Auckland Airport and a leisure traveller through the airport. I’m excited
at the prospect of serving on its board and contributing to the prosperity of New Zealand.”
Shareholders will have the opportunity to vote on Mr Donohue’s appointment at the Annual
Meeting on 22 October 2026 and the Board will recommend that shareholders vote in favour of
this. Mr Donohue’s appointment follows the retirement of Christine Spring, who has been a
director since 2014.
ENDS

For more information:
Investors:
Chief Financial Officer
Stewart Reynolds
+64 27 511 9632

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stewart.reynolds@aucklandairport.co.nz
Media:
Head of Corporate Affairs
Libby Middlebrook
libby.middlebrook@aucklandairport.co.nz
+6421 989 908