I’m not stepping down: Qantas chairman

Qantas chairman Richard Goyder has ruled out following Alan Joyce out the door, as pressure grows over the board’s handling of a string of crises.

Qantas chairman Richard Goyder has ruled out stepping down from the embattled airline as pressure grows over the board’s handling of a string of crises which saw boss Alan Joyce depart prematurely from his role.

Mr Goyder told The Australian it was important he remained in the chairman’s role amid a transition from Mr Joyce to new chief executive Vanessa Hudson, who starts on Wednesday.

Asked if he would leave the airline, Mr Goyder said: “No, I am fully committed.”

“I will get to work on these things, and we’ll do what we need to do. And I think my role in that is pretty important.”

Qantas Group Chairman Richard Goyder. Picture: NCA Newswire /Gaye Gerard

Ms Hudson will take over on Wednesday in a shock change to the handover plan that was due to take place at the Qantas AGM in November.

Mr Joyce made the decision on Monday night to force through an early exit, which was triggered by the need for a “circuit breaker”, according to the Qantas chairman,

“He spoke to the board last night, and he felt we needed a bit of a circuit breaker. It probably went against all his instincts – because he’s a very determined individual,” Mr Goyder said.

“But he and the board agree that Vanessa is ready and her team and Alan feels that to give her a bit of clear air and frankly, in the interest of the airline, it’s the right thing to do.”

“He’s always been a courageous CEO and this has been a decision that he won’t have liked making, but he’s made for the right reasons.”