Qantas picks first female CEO to lead the airline

Qantas Airways, the largest airline in Australia, has named Vanessa Hudson as its new CEO, making her the first woman to lead the airline in its 100-year history. Hudson will take over the role in November 2021, succeeding Alan Joyce, who has served as CEO for 15 years, making him the longest-serving current CEO of a major Australian company.

Vanessa Hudson is a Qantas veteran with 28 years of experience in various senior roles, including CFO, chief customer officer, and senior vice president for the Americas and New Zealand. She has been the finance chief of the company since October 2019 and was responsible for the airline’s financial management during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her appointment is a testament to her outstanding handling of the finance and treasury portfolio during the challenging period.

Qantas Chairman Richard Goyder praised Hudson’s leadership during the pandemic, saying that her exceptional performance put her ahead of almost 40 candidates from around the world that the airline had shortlisted for the CEO job.

While the number of women holding CEO positions in Australian-listed companies remains small, there is a trend of increasing representation of women in high-profile CEO roles. Notable examples include Macquarie Group, the leading investment bank, Telstra Corp, a top telecommunications company, Woodside, an oil and gas giant, and AMP, a financial services firm.

Vanessa Hudson’s appointment as the first female CEO of Qantas is a significant milestone, demonstrating the importance of gender diversity and inclusivity in the aviation industry. Her appointment sends a message of empowerment and provides a role model for young women aspiring to leadership roles in the industry.