‘Credit to this country’: Outgoing Qantas boss’ tearful reflection as airline’s first female CEO announced

Alan Joyce has welled up with tears while announcing his retirement and successor after 15 years with the major airline.

Qantas boss Alan Joyce has become emotional just hours after announcing his departure from the airline.

The airline on Tuesday announced their first female chief executive Vanessa Hudson will replace Alan Joyce upon his retirement later this year.

Ms Hudson, who has worked with Qantas for more than 28 years, will step into Mr Joyce’s role in November.

Mr Joyce started to well up with tears as he reflected on the company’s record for making progressive appointments to leadership positions.

“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,” he said.

Joyce broke down in tears while reflecting on the significance of being appointed to the role 15 years ago as a ‘gay man’. Picture: NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard

His replace is the first woman to be appointed to the top job in the airline’s 103-year history.

“For the past five years Vanessa has had a direct hand in shaping our strategy as a member of the Group Management Committee, and her handling of the finance and treasury portfolio during the Covid crisis was outstanding,” Qantas chairman Richard Goyder said.

The airline has faced a raft of criticism over the last three years largely as a result of the company’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic which resulted in widespread lay-offs, flight cancellations and staff strikes.

Mr Joyce first took reins of the role in 2008.

New Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson. Picture: NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard

Alan Joyce will retire this year. Picture: NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard

Ms Hudson has had a 28 year career within the Qantas group including as Chief Customer Officer and Senior Vice President across the Americas and New Zealand.

Mr Goyder said she had “a deep understanding” of the business and the qualities of an outstanding leader.

“For the past five years Vanessa has had a direct hand in shaping our strategy as a member of the Group Management Committee, and her handling of the finance and treasury portfolio during the Covid crisis was outstanding,” he said.

New CEO Vanessa Hudson (l), Qantas Group Chairman Richard Goyder (c) and current CEO Alan Joyce announce the restructure. Picture: NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard

“She also led the fleet selection process in 2022 for the renewal of our domestic jet aircraft over the next decade.”

Mr Goyder said her appointment was the result of a rigorous selection process which considered a number of high-quality candidates both internally and externally.

Ms Hudson will continue in her current role as CFO while taking on duties as the chief executive designate and joining the Board until her starting her new role in November.

Her replacement as CFO will be announced in the coming months.