Qantas tests mettle of leadership contenders with management shake-up

Qantas shares have dived more than 5pc after the airline announced a major management shake-up.

Qantas executives Jayne Hrdlicka, Alan Joyce, Gareth Evans and Andrew Finch. (Renee Nowytarger/The Australian)

Qantas has stepped up its internal succession planning for life after current boss Alan Joyce by rotating its senior executive team, including giving his most likely heirs apparent — Jetstar CEO Jayne Hrdlicka and international and freight boss Gareth Evans — totally new roles.

After revealing the second highest annual profit result in the airline’s history on Friday, Alan Joyce reiterated he had no plans to retire any time soon, especially as the airline is looking to completely rework its international network with new super long-haul aircraft.

But with the airline’s 100th anniversary approaching in 2020 and the prospect of a new director, retiring Wesfarmers CEO Richard Goyder, succeeding Leigh Clifford as chairman over the coming years, the Qantas board is clearly testing its best internal candidates to succeed Mr Joyce by giving them new challenges.

Ms Hrdlicka will become CEO of Qantas’s loyalty and digital ventures division after running budget carrier Jetstar for the past five years.

The former Bain consultant reportedly put her hand up for the Woolworths CEO role in 2015. She was previously on the Gordon Cairns-chaired board of the retailer but resigned in February last year.

Mr Evans, who will take over at Jetstar in changes effective from November, was previously Qantas chief financial officer. Mr Evans previously ran Qantas International.

In other changes announced by Qantas (QAN) today, freight, catering and airports division manager Alison Webster will become CEO of international, while freight will come under the management of domestic business CEO Andrew David.

Qantas shares closed down 5.65 per cent at $5.68.

AAP