While Christchurch airport chairman Dave McKenzie announced the appointment yesterday, Mr Boult has been doing the job on an acting basis since February following the December 2008 resignation of Rene Bakx.
Mr Boult, who lives at Lake Hayes, told the Otago Daily Times he was "thrilled" and slightly surprised by his new career path.
"It's the new old role - I've been doing it for four months, but I didn't expect to be embarking on a new career in what I could only describe as the second half of my life.
"Christchurch Airport is a fantastic place.
"We've got 6 million passengers going through every year, 5000 staff and $750 million in assets.
"We've just started building a new $200 million terminal, so it's a really exciting, vibrant place to be and I'm thrilled."
Mr Boult is responsible for major developments at Luggate, Threepwood and Butel Park, which between them have more than 370 sections, but with the property market being "pretty quiet", his management team looked after those interests.
"At this stage I plan to carry on commuting, but I'll have a think about that in the future.
It's not a big deal; it just means I miss a few hours on a Friday afternoon and a Monday morning."
In April, Mr Boult said he was not on the short list for the permanent CEO position at the airport, but Mr McKenzie said yesterday the board had approached Mr Boult to consider taking on the role full time "for a period that would see CIAL's Integrated Terminal Project substantially completed".
Mr Boult has been a Crown-appointed airport director since 2003 but will step down from that position from July 1 when he takes up his new role.
