Paul Scurrah’s high career hopes as Virgin Australia flies on
Former Virgin Australia CEO Paul Scurrah is being linked to a variety of vacant roles, including Channel 9 and Australia Post.
As Virgin Australia emerged from administration on Tuesday under new owner Bain Capital, former chief executive Paul Scurrah was also looking to the future.
After a few days of recharging his batteries with friends in the Whitsundays, Mr Scurrah indicated he was happy for his former workmates that the uncertainty accompanying the administration process was finally over.
“They’re a great group of people, just the best, and I’m glad the deal is done, and Virgin Australia will fly on,” he told The Australian from his Brisbane home.
Although Bain Capital went back on its public pledge to retain Mr Scurrah as CEO, he said he had no regrets about his 18-month stint with the airline.
Mr Scurrah has maintained a low profile since exiting the company, and on Tuesday appeared relaxed and positive as he sat by his pool wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the words “underestimate me, that’ll be fun”.
He is understood to be keen to take a break from work for six months, which could well position him to replace outgoing Nine Entertainment CEO Hugh Marks.
The media company has indicated Marks will leave Nine in the second half of the financial year, after he announced his resignation to staff on Saturday.
Mr Marks said an internal and external search would be mounted to find his replacement.
Mr Scurrah would not rule out considering the high-profile role. His name has also been included among potential contenders for the job of Australia Post chief following Christine Holgate’s resignation over a decision to reward executives with Cartier watches.
Mr Scurrah served on the Australia Post board for two years from 2017 and his record of keeping unions and employees onside in difficult negotiations would probably make him attractive to the postal service.
Before joining Virgin Australia in March last year, Mr Scurrah spent five years as CEO of stevedores DP World, and previously headed Queensland Rail.
As Virgin Australia CEO, Mr Scurrah was tasked with returning the airline to profit, after eight years of annual losses under previous chief executive John Borghetti.
His recovery plan was only in its infancy when COVID-19 struck, wiping out the carrier’s revenue base and ultimately sending it into administration.
On Tuesday the lead administrator at Virgin Australia, Vaughan Strawbridge, said he was confident Mr Scurrah would go on to better things. “We’ve got no doubt he’s going to be massively successful and we’re really excited about what he’s going to do next,” Mr Strawbridge said.
Former Jetstar boss Jayne Hrdlicka was installed by Bain Capital as Mr Scurrah’s replacement, in a move that prompted unions to suspend negotiations with the airline.
Ms Hrdlicka had previously been expected to take a board role, with Bain suggesting she was too busy with her Tennis Australia and Hawaiian Airlines commitments to do more at Virgin Australia.
She has relocated from Melbourne to Brisbane with her family for the role.
Unions have now resumed talks on new enterprise agreements for pilots, cabin crew, engineers and ground handling staff.
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