Air New Zealand has appointed Greg Foran, president and chief executive of Walmart U.S, to serve as CEO on a permanent basis, the airline announced on Friday. Foran will begin his appointment in the first quarter of 2020, effectively replacing acting executive Jeff McDowall, who stepped into the role following the departure of longstanding ANZ boss Christopher Luxon in late September. Luxon recently announced intentions to launch a political career with the country’s National Party.

New Zealand-born Foran joins ANZ after an eight-year stint with the U.S. retail giant, which includes running Walmart’s Chinese operations. He is credited with boosting Walmart’s sales and leading transformative change across 4,600 stores since becoming CEO in 2014. Before that, Foran held various positions with Woolworths, overseeing supermarkets across Australia and New Zealand.

ANZ’s chairman Therese Walsh welcomed the appointment, stating Foran will be an ‘’outstanding leader’’ for the airline. "We are 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 in a company statement.