Qantas farewells two senior executives as renewal process continues under Hudson

The airline will farewell two senior executives including its high-flying lawyer, who came under public scrutiny for his role in major lay-offs, as CEO Vanessa Hudson continues to refresh her management team.

Qamtas company secretary Andrew Finch, with CEO Vanessa Hudson and chairman Richard Goyder at an inquiry into Australia’s bilateral airservices arrangements. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Qantas is farewelling two senior executives, with company secretary and general counsel Andrew Finch set to leave in October, and sustainability chief Andrew Parker to exit next month.

It’s understood the departures are part of the ongoing renewal process instigated by chief executive Vanessa Hudson, after taking over from Alan Joyce on September 5.

Mr Finch started with Qantas in 2012 and kept a relatively low profile until last year’s Senate hearings, where he was thrust into the limelight.

The senior lawyer was ridiculed for asking when a hearing of the inquiry into bilateral rights was going to end, because his flight was leaving soon.

He also came under scrutiny for his role in the illegal outsourcing of 1683 ground handling workers, after overseeing a legal agreement for then Qantas domestic CEO Andrew David to take full responsibility, shielding Mr Joyce.

Mr Parker was a key architect of the successful Qantas-Emirates partnership and oversaw government affairs and sustainability for many years.

His focus became solely sustainability from 2021 where he shaped Qantas’s emissions targets for 2030 and 2050.

Qantas sustainability chief Andrew Parker will leave the airline next month. Picture: Chris Kidd

Ms Hudson informed Qantas employees about the changes in an email, thanking both Mr Finch and Mr Parker for their contributions to the airline.

She said Mr Finch had provided her with much support throughout the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission lawsuit and TWU ground handling cases, as well as the recent governance review.

“With much of the work now finalised on these he felt it was the right time to consider other opportunities,” wrote Ms Hudson.

“I want to thank Andrew for all his hard work and the enormous contribution he has made to Qantas over many years.”

Mr Parker had decided to leave after 11 years with the group, Ms Hudson said, acknowledging his work on the Climate Fund, and sustainability targets.

“He also played a key role for us during Covid, has helped us to build on our partnership with Emirates and grow our traffic rights globally,” she added.

“I wish him all the very best with his next chapter.”

In a LinkedIn post, Mr Parker said he had enjoyed the “best of journeys” with Qantas, and urged the airline to continue taking a view on big public policy issues that affected employees and the country.

“Supporting marriage equality so passionately was one of the proudest moments at Qantas for so many of us,” said Mr Parker, who chaired the airline’s LQBTIQ network.

Recruitment will begin shortly to fill the vacancies, with the departures halving the number of “Andrews” on the group leadership team.

Qantas Loyalty CEO Andrew Glance and chief risk officer Andrew Monaghan remain, having joined the GMT after Ms Hudson’s promotion to the top job.

Since she took over the reins from Mr Joyce last September, the executive line up has undergone considerable changes.

Among those to leave include former Loyalty boss Olivia Wirth, former corporate affairs chief Andrew McGinnes and former domestic CEO Andrew David.

Qantas shares climbed 2 per cent on the back of announcement about the executive team departures, closing up 12c at $6.21, the highest level in three weeks.