Qantas chair in early landing

Qantas has announced that former Telstra chairman John Mullen will join the airline months ahead of schedule as the airline’s outgoing chairman Richard Goyder fights for survival at Woodside.

The airline announced on Friday that Mr Mullen will commence as non-executive director and chairman-elect on April 22, earlier than the previously announced July 1.

Mr Goyder will remain as chairman at Qantas ahead of its annual meeting scheduled for October, when Mr Mullen will assume the role.

In a brief statement to the market on Friday, Qantas said Mr Mullen’s position on the board would be put to a shareholder vote at the annual meeting.

“He expects to reduce his existing professional commitments over time,” Qantas said.

Mr Mullen is currently chairman of Treasury Wine Estates and logistics company Brambles, and previously served on the board of Telstra, Toll Holdings and Macquarie Airports.

He said in February that he was conscious of the time commitment the role of Qantas chair required, and would be adjusting his other professional obligations accordingly.

“It’s an extraordinary privilege to take up the chairmanship of the national carrier. It is a company that I have admired all my life, and I am greatly looking forward to helping Vanessa (Hudson) and the management team take the company to new heights of service and performance excellence,” Mr Mullen said.

The early arrival for Mr Mullen comes as Mr Goyder fights to keep his chairman role at Woodside, amid pressure from activist shareholders prepared to vote against his re-election and also a key climate report on Wednesday over claims the board is not doing enough to tackle climate change.