Air New Zealand has appointed Kiri Hannifin as its chief sustainability officer, a newly created role as the airline places an increased focus on addressing its environmental impact. Hannifin will join the airline on December 5 from Countdown, where as director of corporate affairs, quality, health & safety and sustainability she spearheaded the company's programme to reduce emissions, managed the health, safety and wellbeing of the company's 21,000 staff.