Qantas unveils new-look exec team in a major reshuffling of the top deck

The airline has unveiled a new look executive team as the airline prepares to farewell long-serving CEO Alan Joyce.

Qantas has unveiled a new look executive team as the airline prepares to farewell chief executive Alan Joyce and welcome Vanessa Hudson into the top job.

As a result, two new executive roles will be added to the all-powerful group management committee, which will grow from 11 to 13 people.

In a statement to the ASX on Wednesday, Qantas announced current group executive of strategy, people and technology Rob Marcolina would take on Ms Hudson’s former role as chief financial officer, after 11-years with the airline.

In other changes, chief customer officer Markus Svensson will move up to the position of Qantas Domestic CEO when Andrew David retires in September.

QantasLink CEO John Gissing is also in the departure lounge ahead of his retirement in November, with an executive search underway for a replacement. It was noted that Mr Gissing would remain on for 12-months as an adviser.

Executive manager of freight Catriona Larriatt was set to fill Mr Svensson’s position of chief customer officer, and would take on responsibility for technology as well.

Qantas chief financial officer and CEO-designate Vanessa Hudson with current CEO Alan Joyce at the International Air Transport Association AGM in Istanbul. Picture: Robyn Ironside

A new role of chief risk officer was being created, with current executive manager of safety Andrew Monaghan scoring a promotion.

Qantas was also looking for a dedicated chief people officer to oversee the recruitment of 8500 staff in the next decade.

The changes meant the group management committee responsible for guiding Qantas and Jetstar would expand from 11 people to 13.

Those whose positions were unaffected included Qantas Loyalty CEO Olivia Wirth, chief sustainability officer Andrew Parker and chief corporate affairs officer Andrew McGinnes.

A new Qantas International CEO, former Air New Zealand executive Cam Wallace, was due to start next week.

As CEO-designate, Ms Hudson said the changes brought renewal but also achieved a level of continuity.

“The structural changes announced today are about increasing our focus on a few key areas as we move from recovery to growth, especially when it comes to things that matter most to our people and our customers,” Ms Hudson said.

“We have a lot of expansion planned in the years ahead, and that will translate into thousands of new frontline jobs and millions of hours of training. Keeping our team engaged and supporting them to deliver for our customers is critical, and so is the dedicated chief people officer role.”

She said the success of recovery plans had put Qantas in a strong position, with the airline set to announce a record annual profit of close to $2.5bn in August.

But Ms Hudson said that position would only be maintained by getting “the balance right for customers, people and shareholders in the years ahead”.

“On behalf of the group, I’d like to sincerely thank John Gissing for his massive contribution over nearly 25-years with us and almost 40 years in Australian aviation,” she said.

“We’re fortunate to have access to his experience as an adviser after he formally retires from his current role at the end of this year.”

Originally published as Qantas unveils new-look exec team in a major reshuffling of the top deck