Qantas’ CEO Joyce Ousted Ahead of Schedule
Joe Cortez September 06, 2023
The airline announced his departure is effective immediately, ending his run of 15 years at the helm of the carrier.
Joyce Exits After Action from Transport Workers Union and Australian Regulators
Alan Joyce joined Qantas in 2000, after spending 12 years with Irish flag carrier Aer Lingus. By 2003, he was placed in charge of Qantas subsidiary Jetstar Airways. He would ultimately rise to lead the entire airline five years later.
Although his leadership has been marred with controversies, Joyce’s latest issues ultimately forced his ouster from the company. In 2022, Australia’s ABC News reports the airline lost an appeal to a court case brought by the Transportation Workers Union, accusing the airline of outsourcing union jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) announced they would begin legal action against Qantas on allegations they sold tickets on flights which were already cancelled.
Replacing him at the position is Qantas chief financial officer Vanessa Hudson, who will become the first female chief executive of the airline. She joined Qantas in 1994, moving up the ranks from internal audit supervisor to managing the company’s finances. In previous comments, Hudson said her priority is to move from “recovery to growth.”
“The success of our recovery plans means we’re in a strong position,” Hudson said in a press release. “And that will only stay true if we get the balance right for our customers, people and shareholders in the years ahead.”
For his time as Qantas chief executive, BBC News Joyce could receive an exit package worth an estimated $15.31 million USD. Any package would need to be approved by the company’s board of directors.
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