A leading critic of Qantas’ business practices has assured the airline’s hard-working staff they are not the problem – as chairman Richard Goyder reveals he will follow the CEO out the door.
Bridget McKenzie, who chaired the Select Committee’s inquiry into the decision to reject more Qatar Airways flights to Australia, welcomed Mr Goyder’s announcement on Wednesday.
Ms McKenzie said: “Qantas needs to restore its reputation with loyal customers, staff, shareholders and the Australian public. Board and management renewal is critical to this.’
But she stressed that the fault does not lie with the working staff who are ‘on the front line every day’.
“I know I’ve given the board and management a pretty hard time over the last few weeks… and with pretty good reason,” she said.
Bridget McKenzie, who chaired the Select Committee’s inquiry into the decision to reject more Qatar Airways flights to Australia, welcomed Mr Goyder’s announcement on Wednesday.
She emphasized that the fault is not with the working staff who are “on the front line every day, every day”.
“But I want to give a shout out to the Qantas staff to thank them for their professionalism.
“(They are) on the front line every day, dealing with the frustrations of the Australian traveling public. They are doing a great job.’
She hopes the continued pressure she, the Coalition and the wider public have put on Qantas will improve the travel experience for all Australians.
“We all want Qantas to be an airline we can be proud of, and the recognition that change was needed is a good thing,” she said.
“Mr. Goyder has had a very distinguished corporate career and I sincerely wish him well as he manages the leadership transition.”
The airline said Goyder would step down before the company’s annual general meeting at the end of 2024.
“Qantas has been through an incredibly difficult period since our operations were halted during the pandemic. The recovery has not been easy and mistakes have been made,” said Goyder.
“We again apologize for those times when we were wrong. I have always sought to act in the best interests of Qantas.
Qantas chairman Richard Goyder (pictured with wife Janine) has announced he will step down next year as he apologizes for ‘mistakes’ made by the national carrier.
“Judicious and orderly turnover at Board level will support the important work being done, led by Vanessa and her new leadership team.
In essence, the Group is in a very strong position to overcome its current challenges and deliver for all its stakeholders in the years to come.
Goyder’s resignation comes a month after CEO Alan Joyce stepped down. Mr Joyce brought up his planned retirement two months ago.
Five directors, including current CEO Vanessa Hudson, will contest an election at this year’s AGM for the role of chairman.
Mr. Goyder was appointed to the role of chairman in October 2018.
Last month, Qantas bosses were grilled at a parliamentary committee that heard Australians would have benefited from cheaper tickets until Christmas if the government had not blocked competitor Qatar Airways from adding 28 more routes.
The parliamentary committee examined the role Qantas played in the transport minister’s decision to reject Qatar Airways’ application.
Goyder, who previously led Wesfarmers during the 2008 global financial crisis, has seen growing calls from pilots and shareholders for him to step down.
Qantas chairman Richard Goyder and new CEO Vanessa Hudson appeared before the committee to address the growing criticism while Mr Joyce was overseas.
Goyder, who previously led Wesfarmers during the 2008 global financial crisis, has seen growing calls from pilots and shareholders for him to step down.
However, he had assured the committee he was the right person to lead Qantas forward and believed he had the confidence of ‘major shareholders’.
“I had meetings with our major shareholders two weeks ago, and they strongly support me to stay, and I would also argue that my history in business has been one of high ethics, seeking to create value for all stakeholders. ours,” he said.
He added that neither he nor any other Qantas board member had lobbied the government to block Qatar Airways’ application for more flights.
Qantas has also been plagued by other issues, including the fact that the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is taking the airline to the Federal Court, alleging that it oversold thousands of already canceled flights.
Meanwhile, the High Court last month agreed that the airline’s dismissal of 1,700 workers during the Covid pandemic was unlawful under the Fair Work Act.
More changes have also been made within the airline.
Non-executive director Michael L’Estrange will step down in November, while Jacqueline Hey and Maxine Brenner will leave in February.
(tagsTranslate) daily mail(s) news(s) Qantas(s) Australia(s) Christmas(s) Qatar