Richard Goyder to be new Qantas chairman

The announcements keep coming at Australia’s major airlines with long-standing Qantas chairman Leigh Clifford revealing Tuesday he is due to step down in October after 11 years. Clifford has been chairman at Qantas since November, 2007, and will be replaced by current board member and former Wesfarmers chief executive Richard Goyder. Goyder joined the board in 2017 amid speculation he had been recruited as Clifford’s successor. Clifford has been at the helm of the Qantas board during some of the company’s most tumultuous and successful periods. It was under his chairmanship that current chief executive Alan Joyce was appointed and Clifford staunchly supported Joyce when he grounded the airline in 2011 amid a clash with unions. His tenure saw the airline post a record loss as it wrote down the value of its international fleet and then record profits as it benefited from lower fuel prices and a transformation program. Read: Good times to continue for Qantas. “It has been an absolute privilege to lead the Qantas Board for these past 11 years,’’ Clifford said in a statement. “The national carrier has never been in a stronger position and that’s a credit to the management team and the 30,000 employees that make up the Qantas Group family. “Richard is one of the most experienced business leaders in Australia and an excellent choice to lead the Qantas Board into the future.” Goyder was chief executive at Wesfarmers for 12 years and serves as chairman of Woodside Petroleum Limited and the Australian Football League Commission. He also chairs JDFR Australia, the West Australian Symphony Orchestra and of the Channel 7 Telethon Trust. He is an honorary member of the Business Council of Australia and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. “Qantas is an iconic Australian company and one of the best-performing airline groups in the world,’’ he said. ”I’m honoured to be named its Chairman and look forward to working with my Board colleagues to help it take advantage of the opportunities ahead.” Clifford’s announcement comes after Virgin Australia chief executive John Borghetti revealed earlier this month that he plans to step down by the end of 2019. READ: Borghetti to leave Virgin Australia