A significant reshuffle of Qantas management will see new bosses at the carrier’s international and budget arms as key players move into new roles.
The first major change to the Australian airline group’s executive structure since 2014 comes after the airline last week recorded its second highest underlying pre-tax profit on record and called on aircraft manufacturers to deliver planes capable of flying Sydney-London non-stop.
Read: Qantas sees strengthening demand as it post second highest profit.
The reshuffle will see Qantas International & Freight chief executive Gareth Evans take over the Group CEO role at Jetstar.
The current executive manager of freight, catering and airports – Alison Webster – will move into the role as a new addition to the executive team.
Webster has almost 30 years experience in aviation in Australia and the UK., including a number of senior executive roles at Qantas. She has been executive manager at freight, catering and airports since 2014 and prior to that was responsible for international customer experience and cabin crew.
She also worked in operations and commercial roles at British Airways.
Jetstar Group chief executive Jayne Hrdlicka will move to head Qantas Loyalty and Digital Ventures, which will now also include innovation.
Marketing, brand and corporate affairs boss Olivia Wirth becomes chief customer officer, retaining her existing portfolios and adding responsibility for customer and digital strategy.
Also staying put with an added workload is Qantas Domestic chief executive Andrew David, who takes on responsibility for Qantas freight, catering and airports.
Group executive people and culture Jon Scriven is retiring after eight years in the role and is being replaced by outgoing Qantas Loyalty head Lesley Grant.
General counsel and company secretary Andrew Finch will take on the added responsibility for office of the CEO.
Qantas Group chief executive Alan Joyce said the new structure would help the company keep delivering for customers and shareholders.
“Over the past three years, our senior executive team has led the Group through a major turnaround,’’ he said in a statement. “We’re now entering a phase of ongoing improvement and innovation, and these changes will help drive that.
“This is also about making the best use of the considerable leadership talent at the top level of our organisation.’’
Transition to the new executive team will begin in November.
