Invercargill Airport personnel left stunned

Board members and staff of Invercargill Airport are stunned after the apparent departure of newly appointed General Manager Gordon Johnstone after only eight days in the job. 

Airport Chairman Merv Cook, who announced Mr Johnstone’s appointment on 25 November, today confirmed that he had handed in his keys and apparently departed. 

Attempts by Airport representatives to locate and speak to Mr Johnstone had since been unsuccessful. 

Mr Cook said he had been left stunned by the development. 

“This was a key appointment and we went through one of the most rigorous appointment processes that I have been involved with.  I am shocked and would like an explanation, but we have been unable to locate Mr Johnstone,” he said. 

According to his Curriculum Vitae, Mr Johnstone, was born in Southland and had broad career experience that spanned a variety of organisations in the public and private sectors, both nationally and internationally.  He was most recently employed as Financial Controller of a hardware company in Cairns. 

Mr Cook said that the Airport Company would be seeking answers from Mr Johnstone and until then, was unable to make any further comment.