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Qantas revamps executive team with new heads of Domestic and International operations

written by australianaviation.com.au | December 12, 2014

Gareth Evans at the delivery ceremony in Seattle for Qantas's retro-themed Boeing 737-800. (Gerard Frawley)
Gareth Evans will be the new boss of Qantas International. (Gerard Frawley)

Qantas has made sweeping changes to its senior executive ranks with the heads of its Domestic and International operations heading for the departure gate as part of a major restructure.

Lyell Strambi, who runs Qantas Domestic, and the head of Qantas International Simon Hickey will leave the company once the new structure is in place by March 2015, Qantas said in a statement released on Friday afternoon.

In their place, Andrew David has been promoted to the chief executive of Qantas Domestic from his current position of Qantas chief operating officer, while current Qantas chief financial officer Gareth Evans moves across to run Qantas International.

Current QantasLink chief executive John Gissing gets an expanded role as group executive of associated airlines and services. He will keep responsibility for the regional carrier, as well as New Zealand-based Jetconnect and fly-in/fly-out operator Network Aviation.

Evans’ replacement as chief financial officer will be Tino La Spina, who is currently the deputy chief financial officer.

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And Robert Marcolina will have an expanded role as group executive for strategy, transformation and IT.

Qantas said the changes were the first major restructure of the company’s executive committee since May 2012 and would result in a “flatter structure for the broader Qantas group executive team”, given the deputy chief financial officer, QantasLink chief executive and Qantas chief operating officer roles were not being replaced.

“In the 12 months since we announced our accelerated transformation program, we have made excellent progress,” Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce said in a statement.

“But there is still a lot of work to build the foundation for a stronger, more sustainable and more successful Qantas. This new executive team will lead this work forward to deliver for our customers, shareholders and employees according to the strategy we have laid out.”

Evans has held the role of chief financial officer since 2010, when he replaced Colin Storrie.

A 15-year veteran of the company, Evans had previously worked on flight scheduling, pricing, revenue management and airline operations, as well as preparing the airline for the entry of the Airbus A380 into the fleet.

David is a recent arrival at Qantas, having joined the company in 2013. Previously, the 53-year-old has worked at Jetstar, Tiger Airways Australia (where he was chief executive for 18 months), Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand.

Simon Hickey joined Qantas in 2004 as head of group strategy. (Qantas)
Simon Hickey joined Qantas in 2004 as head of group strategy. (Qantas)

Hickey, whose time at Qantas included roles at its frequent flyer and freight business said it was the right time to explore new opportunities.

Lyell Strambi has been running Qantas Domestic since July 2012. (Qantas)
Lyell Strambi has been running Qantas Domestic since July 2012. (Qantas)

Meanwhile, Strambi said it he was keen for a new challenge outside the aviation sector after six years at Qantas and more than three decades in the industry including stints at Virgin Atlantic and Ansett.

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Comments (5)

  • beryl

    says:

    Great work Qantas keep it up , you are on your way to being one of the great airlines again.

  • Red Barron

    says:

    Just one more high profile departure to go and things are on the up.

  • Peter J Cesnik

    says:

    Time for a change…The financial result at this year’s AGM is a clear indicator of positive change. Let us hope the momentum does not fade away…

  • John G

    says:

    I agree with the Red Baron. Instead of giving everything away to codeshare partners QF should learn to stand on its own undercarriage instead of other airlines. On a recent trip to Europe on a QF codeshare on Emerates there was not a sign of QF anywhere from BNE to STO inclusive, the same on the return. Why book a QF flight if you don’t see a QF person on the entire trip.

  • Philip

    says:

    Unfortunately the BIG change which is necessary still has not happened.

    Alan Joyce MUST go.

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