Vanessa Hudson to Become CEO and MD of Qantas

Dark/Light Mode (08/05/23)  Vanessa Hudson is set to become the next CEO and Managing Director of Qantas, taking over from Alan Joyce when he retires in November 2023.

Vanessa is currently the Group’s Chief Financial Officer and has worked in a number of executive positions across the company over 28 years, including Chief Customer Officer and Senior Vice President for Qantas across the Americas and New Zealand.

Vanessa Hudson

Vanessa 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.

Qantas has not yet confirmed who will become the new CFO.

“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,” said Qantas Chairman, Richard Goyder. “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. A key strength of Qantas is the sheer depth of talent it has, and Vanessa will be supported by a deep bench of executives across the organisation as well as by the Board.”

Vanessa 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, including Executive Manager of Sales and Distribution; Senior Vice President for Qantas across the Americas and New Zealand; Executive Manager of Commercial Planning; and Executive Manager for Product and Service.

In those various roles her responsibilities ranged from sales channels, revenue management and network planning, to transformation in catering, airports and network.

In February 2018, Vanessa was appointed to the role of Chief Customer Officer and became a member of the Group Management Committee.

In October 2019, Vanessa became the Group’s Chief Financial Officer and held this portfolio through the COVID19 crisis, when sudden border closures saw revenue evaporate in a matter of weeks. Careful management through this period – including equity raising, debt raising and asset sales – saw the company make it through the crisis and ultimately emerge with a stronger balance sheet than pre-COVID19.

“It’s an absolute honour to be asked to lead the national carrier,” Vanessa said. “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.”

Vanessa has a Bachelor of Business and was admitted as a Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in 1994.

She lives in Sydney with her husband and two daughters.

“At the Board’s request, I extended my time as CEO to see through the COVID recovery plan, so now that we’re on the other side of that crisis it’s a logical time for me to step down,” said Alan Joyce. “There’s still a lot I want to deliver in the next six months and at the top of that list is ensuring a smooth handover to Vanessa, who I’m sure will excel in the role.”

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