Hudson to be new Qantas CEO
Vanessa Hudson will become the next chief executive officer and Managing Director of Qantas, taking over from Alan Joyce when he retires in November 2023.
Ms Hudson is currently the Group’s chief financial officer and has worked in a number of executive positions across the Group over 28 years, including Chief Customer Officer and Senior Vice President for Qantas across the Americas and New Zealand.
My focus will be delivering for those we rely on and who rely on us – our customers, our employees, our shareholders and the communities we serve.
Vanessa Hudson Incoming chief executive officer and managing director of Qantas Group.
Ms Hudson will continue in her current role while also being CEO designate and joining the Board, before taking over as the company’s 13th CEO in 103 years following the 2023 Annual General Meeting.
An announcement on a new CFO will be made in the months ahead.
Chairman Richard Goyder said, “Vanessa has a deep understanding of this business after almost three decades in a range of roles both onshore and offshore, across commercial, customer and finance. She has a huge amount of airline experience and she’s an outstanding leader.
“For the past five years Vanessa has had a direct hand in shaping our strategy as a member of the Group Management Committee, and her handling of the finance and treasury portfolio during the COVID crisis was outstanding. She also led the fleet selection process in 2022 for the renewal of our domestic jet aircraft over the next decade.”
Ms Hudson said: “It’s an absolute honour to be asked to lead the national carrier. This is an exceptional company full of incredibly talented people and it’s very well positioned for the future. “My focus will be delivering for those we rely on and who rely on us – our customers, our employees, our shareholders and the communities we serve.” Ms Hudson joined Qantas in 1994. Since then she has held a variety of senior commercial, customer and finance roles across the Group, in Australia and overseas,