Qantas group executive John Borghetti to step down

QANTAS Airways has announced that John Borghetti, group executive of Qantas Airlines, will leave the company on May 4.

Said CEO Alan Joyce: John Borghetti recently discussed his role in the company with me. It is no coincidence that May 4 is the 36th anniversary of John commencing his career with Qantas.

John has made a very considerable contribution to the Qantas executive team since my appointment as CEO and I would like to thank him for this and for his long-term commitment to the company, its employees, customers and shareholders, he said.

He has been generous with both his time and knowledge as we have been going through the difficult task of putting a new management structure in place at Qantas, Mr Joyce added.

Said Mr Borghetti: I have enjoyed my time with Qantas and leave knowing our succession planning has developed a new generation of senior leaders who are well prepared to take over. Now is the time for me to explore opportunities I have been wanting to explore.

Mr Joyce said Mr Borghetti's departure would trigger changes to executive responsibilities. Rob Gurney will be appointed to the executive committee in the role of group executive-Qantas Airlines, commercial, as will Lesley Grant as executive manager-customer and marketing, both reporting to the CEO.

Mr Gurney has more than 20 years experience in commercial aviation gained with Qantas and BA. He was appointed to the role of group general manager sales and distribution for Qantas Airlines in October 2003. He joined Qantas in 1982, where he developed broad commercial and operational experience before moving to BA in 1993 to take on a variety of sales and marketing roles. He rejoined Qantas in 1997, and his positions have included manager UK, Europe and south east Asia and general manager joint services agreement between Qantas and British Airways.

Ms Grant was appointed group general manager customer, product and service in Qantas Airways in 2002. Before Qantas, she was the senior vice president customer service at Ansett/Air New Zealand Group.

Source: Schednet