Qantas CEO Alan Joyce to quit: Who is Vanessa Hudson replacing him?

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce steps down in November – flag carrier announces name of woman replacing him in top job

  • Vanessa Hudson will replace Mr. Joyce
  • Joyce had been CEO since 2008

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce will step down from his top position in November and the airline will announce Vanessa Hudson as his successor.

Ms. Hudson is the airline’s Chief Financial Officer and has been with Qantas for 28 years.

Mr. Joyce, who has held the position of CEO since 2008, had said in February that he intended to stay on until at least the end of this year.

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce to step down from top job in November and the airline announces Vanessa Hudson as his successor

Qantas Loyalty chief Olivia Worth and Cameron Wallace, the CEO of Qantas International and Freight, were also in the running to take over the airline.

Ms. Hudson will now become Qantas’ first female CEO.

The national airline’s chairman, Richard Goyder, said Ms. Hudson had “a deep understanding of the business.”

“A lot of thought has gone into this succession and the board had a number of high quality candidates to consider both internally and externally,” he said.

Ms. Hudson said it was an honor to step into the top position.

Vanessa Hudson is the airline's Chief Financial Officer and has been with Qantas for 28 years

Vanessa Hudson is the airline’s Chief Financial Officer and has been with Qantas for 28 years

“This is an exceptional company full of incredibly talented people and it is very well positioned for the future,” she said.

“My focus will be to deliver for those we rely on and who rely on us – our customers, our employees, our shareholders and the communities we serve.”

Her career with the airline began in 1994 as an internal audit supervisor.

After several leadership positions, she was promoted to CFO in 2019.

More to come