Blenheim,  SoundsAir,  23 February 2016 - Highly respected businessman John Stace is the new Chairman of Sounds Air Travel & Tourism Ltd, the specialty service that flies into the Marlborough Sounds and has a growing regional operation.

Stace was the instigator of Sounds Air's decision to start flying to Hawkes Bay from Blenheim last year to connect the country's top wine producing regions.

He is a director of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing, Deputy Chairman and shareholder of 3R Group, a director of Sportsground, trustee of The Tank Museum in the UK and Patron of The John Stace Geography Society at Westminster School in London.

Stace returned to New Zealand in 2005 after 25 years in the UK, where, in the mid 1990s he was Deputy Chairman of Lloyd’s of London.

Sounds Air has been operating for nearly 30 years, flying in and around the Marlborough Sounds, Wellington, Westport, Nelson, Taupo – and now Hawkes Bay.

Managing Director Andrew Crawford said the company is delighted to have the expertise of Stace as it enters a strong growth phase.

“In the past year Sounds Air has seen dramatic growth in its business with increased demand on existing sectors. In addition, Air New Zealand’s decision to cease the Wellington to Westport and Wellington to Taupo sectors also provided impetus.

“With such growth the board made the decision to engage John Stace as board Chairman. John comes to us with a wealth of knowledge and experience that is already proving invaluable and we, in turn, are providing John with a conduit for his fantastic energy and a small, but exciting, chapter in his career.”