Qantas has announced that Vanessa Hudson, the current Chief Financial Officer for Qantas Group, will take over as the company’s CEO when current chief Alan Joyce retires from the role in November 2023.
As the long-serving CEO of our nation’s largest airline, Joyce will make way for Qantas’ first female CEO, who has been with the company since she joined in 1994 and has worked in a number of executive positions across the Group for almost three decades.
Ms Hudson will continue in her current role while serving as CEO designate and joining the Board before taking over as the company’s 13th CEO in 103 years.
“A lot of thought has gone into this succession and the Board had a number of high-quality candidates to consider, both internally and externally,” said Qantas chairman Richard Goyder.
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“Vanessa has a deep understanding of this business after almost three decades in a range of roles both onshore and offshore across commercial, customer and finance. She has a huge amount of airline experience and she’s an outstanding leader.”
According to Mr Goyder, the transition comes at a time when Qantas Group is “extremely well positioned” with the Chairman referencing a “clear strategy, a strong balance sheet and record profitability” for the carrier.
Hudons’s appointment comes after much speculation as to who within the Qantas Group will replace Joyce come November. Her name was in the hat as early as this year, along with former Air New Zealand executive Cam Wallace, who was appointed by Qantas to lead its international business, as well as Qantas Loyalty Chief Executive Olivia Wirth.
“At the Board’s request, I extended my time as CEO to see through the COVID recovery plan. so now that we’re on the other side of that crisis it’s a logical time for me to step down,” said Joyce.
“There’s still a lot I want to deliver in the next six months and at the top of that list is ensuring a smooth handover to Vanessa, who I’m sure will excel in the role.”
You can read the full announcement here.
