Qantas has appointed new chief executive’s for its international and domestic divisions in the airline’s biggest management shake up since splitting the businesses in 2012.
The move comes following the departure of Simon Hickey, ceo Qantas International who said he was leaving to “explore new opportunities” and Lyell Strambi, ceo Qantas Domestic, who will seek “new challenges outside the aviation industry”.
Qantas Group chief executive officer, Alan Joyce said he will remain with the airline, and appointed current chief financial officer Garth Evans to the role of Qantas International and Freight ceo, promoting current deputy cfo, Tino La Spina to the top cfo job.
Meanwhile, current chief operating officer, Andrew David will head up the airline’s domestic unit.
Other changes include current QantasLink ceo John Gissing who will now take the lead as group executive associated airlines & services and Robert Marcolina, currently executive manager, group strategy, will expand his role to include transformation and IT, with both to report to Joyce.
The “flatter structure” for the airline means positions deputy cfo, QantasLink ceo and Qantas Airways chief operating officer will not being replaced.
Transition to the new structure will begin in the New Year, with changes finalised by March 2015, the airline said.
“In the 12 months since we announced our accelerated transformation program, we have made excellent progress. But there is still a lot of work to build the foundation for a stronger, more sustainable and more successful Qantas,” Joyce said.
According to Joyce, the average term of Qantas chief executives had been 10 years.
