Alan Joyce, the longtime CEO of Australia’s flag airline Qantas Airways, confirmed that he plans to step down in November. Vanessa Hudson has been appointed as Joyce’s replacement.
Mr. Joyce, who is 56 years old, has served as the CEO of a major Australian organisation for the longest period of time and is regarded as a titan in the international aviation sector. He was raised and born in Dublin.
He led Qantas as CEO amid turbulent circumstances, guiding the airline through the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2008 financial crisis, shifting fuel prices, and growing competition in the aviation industry.
Ms Hudson, who is currently the airline’s finance chief, will be the first woman to lead the century-old airline.
During the pandemic, the Qantas Airways, experienced a reputational crisis due to flight cancellations, job cuts, and taking government funding.
Ms Hudson said the airline has been working to rebuild trust among its customers, but she has an uphill task to build ties with the unions, who have had a poor and often bitter relationship with Mr Joyce.
In 2011, Mr. Joyce hired bodyguards after receiving threats to his life due to his extraordinary decision to ground the airline’s entire fleet amid an industrial dispute.
Mr. Joyce has been a vocal supporter for topics such as marriage equality, recognising Aboriginal people in the nation’s constitution, and advancement of women in the workplace.
“There’s not many female CEOs in the worldwide aviation industry, and it’s a credit to this country that a gay man was appointed 15 years ago to be CEO of the company, and now we have the first female accredited to the board,” Mr Joyce said at the news conference.
He said that he and his husband will keep living in Sydney, focus on community involvement and be open to any additional opportunities that might arise.