Vanessa Hudson (executive)

Last updated

Vanessa Hudson
FCA
Born
Vanessa Hudson

1969or1970(age 54–55) [1]
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia [1]
Education Pymble Ladies' College
Alma mater University of Technology Sydney (UTS)
OccupationBusiness executive
Known forFirst female CEO of Qantas
Children2

Vanessa Hudson (born 1969 or 1970) [1] is an Australian business executive and CEO of Qantas. She became Qantas CEO in September 2023, succeeding Alan Joyce after his abrupt resignation. [2]

Contents

Early life and education

Hudson grew up in Northern Sydney. She attended and matriculated at Pymble Ladies' College in 1986. She later graduated from the University of Technology Sydney in 1991 with a Bachelor of Business (BBus). [2] In 1994, she was admitted as a Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia and later becoming a fellow of the institute (FCA). [3]

Career

Hudson began her career in external audits at Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu for two years, before joining Qantas in 1994 as an internal audit supervisor. [1] Then she became finance controller in the commercial division of Qantas. [2] In 1997, she was appointed as the catering product manager. She was named executive manager of product and services in 2005. [2] As Qantas's executive manager of commercial planning, Hudson was called as a witness at an emergency Fair Work Australia hearing into the 2011 Qantas industrial disputes. [4]

Hudson relocated to Los Angeles in 2013 when she was named the senior vice-president of the American arm of Qantas. [2] She returned to Australia in 2016 after becoming the company's executive manager of sales and distribution. [2] In 2018, Hudson was one of the judges to help name the Australian Financial Review "100 Women of Influence". [5]

In February 2018, she was appointed as chief customer officer of Qantas Group, then becoming the chief financial officer. [2] As CFO, Hudson was involved in a number of matters at Qantas, including Perth Airport's legal action against the airline in 2018, which was ultimately resolved in the Supreme Court of Western Australia. [6] She was also CFO during the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, both of which affected global oil prices and prompted the airline to implement a hedging strategy. [7] [8] In May 2023, it was announced that Hudson would succeed Alan Joyce as the chief executive officer of Qantas, becoming the first woman to lead the company. [9] [10]

Her official appointment as Qantas CEO was initially set to occur at the conclusion of Joyce's 15-year tenure at the annual general meeting in November 2023, [11] although her appointment was expedited following Joyce's early departure in September. On 5 September 2023, it was announced Joyce would quit early following revelations the company may have continued to sell tickets for flights that had already been cancelled, with Hudson taking over the following day. [12]

She was named in the Fortune's list of Most Powerful Women in 2023. [13]

Personal life

Hudson is married with two adult daughters. [1]

Related Research Articles

Qantas Airways Limited, or simply Qantas, is the flag carrier of Australia, and the largest airline by fleet size, international flights, and international destinations in Australia and Oceania. A founding member of the Oneworld airline alliance, it is the only airline in the world that flies to all seven continents, with it operating flights to Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Europe, North America and South America from its hubs in Sydney, Perth, Melbourne and Brisbane. It also flies to over 60 domestic destinations across Australia.

Virgin Australia is an Australian airline based in Brisbane. It is one of two active airlines to use the Virgin brand, as well as the larger by fleet size. It commenced services on 31 August 2000 as Virgin Blue, with two aircraft on a single route. It suddenly found itself becoming a major airline in Australia's domestic market after the collapse of Ansett Australia in September 2001. The airline's business model consists of the core features of a low-cost carrier, along with some elements of a full-service airline. As of June 2024, the airline serves 33 Australian destinations with its Boeing 737 MAX and Boeing 737 Next Generation fleets from its hubs in Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney.

Jetstar Airways Pty Ltd, trading as Jetstar, is an Australian low-cost airline headquartered in Melbourne, Victoria. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Qantas, created in response to the threat posed by the airline Virgin Blue. Jetstar is part of Qantas' two-brand strategy of having Qantas Airways for the premium full-service market and Jetstar for the low-cost market. As of June 2015, Jetstar was carrying 8.5% of all passengers travelling in and out of Australia.

Jetstar Asia Airways Pte Ltd is a Singaporean low-cost airline headquartered at Changi Airport. It operates services to regional destinations in Southeast Asia to countries such as Myanmar, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. It also flies to regional routes in East Asia such as Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

Rex Airlines Pty Ltd is an Australian regional airline based in Mascot, New South Wales. It operates scheduled regional services using turboprop aircraft. Between 2021 and 2024, Rex also operated jet services between selected major Australian cities. In July 2024, it was placed into voluntary administration.

QantasLink is a full-service, regional brand of Australian flag carrier Qantas and is an affiliate member of the Oneworld airline alliance. As of 2024, QantasLink provides over 2,000 flights each week to 65 metropolitan, regional and remote destinations across Australia, as well as short-haul international services to Singapore, the Solomon Islands, New Caledonia and East Timor. Flights are operated by the Qantas owned subsidiaries of Eastern Australia Airlines, National Jet Systems, Network Aviation and Sunstate Airlines, with E190s wet-leased from Alliance Airlines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern Australia Airlines</span> Regional airline of Australia Australia

Eastern Australia Airlines Pty Ltd is an airline based on the grounds of Sydney Airport in Mascot, New South Wales, Australia. It is a regional domestic airline serving sixteen destinations within Australia under the QantasLink banner. Its main base is Sydney Airport, with a hub at Melbourne Airport.

Geoffrey James Dixon is an Australian corporate executive and former CEO and managing director of Qantas.

Allco Financial Group was a fully integrated global financial services business, listed on the Australian Stock Exchange and headquartered in Sydney. Major services provided were structured asset finance, funds management and debt and equity funding. At one stage before liquidation, Allco had over A$4.3 billion in assets, and had financed over A$60 billion of transactions. In its most visible public transaction Allco was a part of Airline Partners Australia, the consortium that unsuccessfully attempted to buy Qantas. The company is now in liquidation, after previously being in administrative receivership, following difficulties in refinancing debt and a share price fall of 99% since the beginning of the subprime mortgage crisis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alan Joyce (businessman)</span> Irish-Australian businessman (born 1966)

Alan Joseph Joyce is an Irish-Australian businessman. He was the chief executive officer (CEO) of Qantas Airways Limited from 2008 until his resignation on September 5, 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lester Brain</span> Australian aviation pioneer

Lester Joseph Brain, AO, AFC was a pioneer Australian aviator and airline executive. Born in New South Wales, he trained with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) before joining Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services (Qantas) as a pilot in 1924. He was awarded the Air Force Cross in 1929, after locating the lost aircraft Kookaburra in northern Australia. Having risen to Chief Pilot at Qantas by 1930, he was appointed Flying Operations Manager in 1938. As a member of the RAAF reserve, Brain coordinated his airline's support for the Australian military during World War II. He earned a King's Commendation for his rescue efforts during an air raid on Broome, Western Australia, in 1942, and was promoted to wing commander in 1944.

Qantas is Australia's largest airline. Qantas was founded in Winton, Queensland, on 16 November 1920 as Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services Limited by Paul McGinness, Sir Hudson Fysh and Sir Fergus McMaster, the latter of whom was chairman. Arthur Baird was employed as a chief aircraft engineer. McGinness left QANTAS for other interests, and Hudson Fysh remained with the company as General Manager & Managing Director. He retired as Sir Hudson Fysh KBE DFC, Chairman of QANTAS in 1966.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011 Qantas industrial disputes</span> Disputes between the Australian airline Qantas and trade unions

The 2011 Qantas industrial disputes were a series of disputes between the Australian airline Qantas and a number of trade unions during much of 2011 and the start of 2012. The disputes commenced in late 2010, when Qantas and unions commenced bargaining for new enterprise agreements. The bargaining became more heated when the airline announced its intentions to launch a new airline in Asia. During the bargaining, engineers, pilots and baggage handlers carried out a number of protected industrial actions, culminating in the decision by Qantas, on 29 October 2011, to lock out those employees. After an application by the Federal Minister for Workplace Relations, Fair Work Australia terminated the industrial action with effect from 2 am on 31 October 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Qantas Flights 7 and 8</span>

Qantas Flight 7 (QF7/QFA7) and Qantas Flight 8 (QF8/QFA8) are flights operated by Australian airline Qantas between Sydney Airport and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, which, from 2013 to 2016, were the longest regularly scheduled non-stop commercial flights in the world. As of July 2024, they are the 13th longest regularly scheduled non-stop commercial flights in the world as measured by great-circle distance—13,804 kilometres, which is over one third of the distance around Earth.

Qantas operates a fleet of Airbus A330, Airbus A380, Boeing 737 and Boeing 787, with a total of 125 aircraft. This list excludes subsidiaries Jetstar, QantasLink and Qantas Freight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jayne Hrdlicka</span> American-Australian airline executive

Carla Jayne Hrdlicka is an American-Australian business executive based in Australia. She is currently the chairman and Board President of Tennis Australia, having been appointed in October 2017. In November 2020, she became the chief executive officer (CEO) of Australian airline Virgin Australia, replacing Paul Scurrah. Her resignation from the airline was announced in February 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robyn Denholm</span> Australian businesswoman

Robyn M. Denholm is an Australian business executive. In November 2018, Denholm succeeded Elon Musk as chair of Tesla, Inc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bonza</span> Defunct low-cost airline of Australia (2021–2024)

Bonza Aviation Pty Ltd, operating as Bonza, was a short-lived Australian low-cost airline, headquartered on the Sunshine Coast. Founded in October 2021, Bonza commenced operations on 31 January 2023. The airline entered voluntary administration on 30 April 2024 suspending all services, after several aircraft were repossessed. It was placed in liquidation on 2 July 2024 after laying off its workforce and failing to find a buyer.

Georgina Sutton is an Australian aviator and former police officer from Adelaide, best known for being the first woman to be appointed as chief pilot for an Australian airline. Sutton began her aviation journey at 16 years old by flying gliders. Having obtained her power licence, she joined South Australia Police to fund her commercial pilot licence. Sutton commenced her aviation career flying small propeller aircraft for a regional airline before accepting a job with Qantas as a second officer on the Boeing 747 in 1989. During her time flying the 747, Sutton was promoted to first officer and in 1992, flew Queen Elizabeth II from London to Singapore. She became fleet captain for the Boeing 767 in 2014, which at the time was the highest position held by a female pilot at a major Australian airline. In 2015, she made history as the first woman to serve as chief pilot for Jetstar Airways. Sutton returned to Qantas in 2017 as a manager of base operations. Outside of her career, she is married and enjoys water-skiing.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Whyte, Jemima; Baird, Lucas (2 May 2023). "New Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson: 'I plan to be myself'". Australian Financial Review . Retrieved 5 May 2023. The 53 year-old Sydney-born executive...
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Hawke, Jack; Williams, Claudia (2 May 2023). "Qantas has announced a new CEO to take over from Alan Joyce. Who is Vanessa Hudson?". ABC News . Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  3. ↑ Khalil, Shireen (2 May 2023). "Qantas announces new CEO Vanessa Hudson". news.com.au . Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  4. ↑ "No end in sight despite urgent hearing". The Sydney Morning Herald . 29 October 2011. The second witness, Qantas's executive manager of commercial planning, Vanessa Hudson, said the airline had taken "numerous decisions to cancel flights and also re-time flights" because of industrial action.
  5. ↑ Tattersall, Hannah (3 September 2018). "The Australian Financial Review 100 Women of Influence 2018 revealed". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 5 May 2023. The other judges were... Vanessa Hudson, chief customer officer of Qantas...
  6. ↑ Wiggins, Jenny (18 February 2022). "Perth Airport fee battle with Qantas finally resolved in court". Australian Financial Review. Qantas Group chief financial officer Vanessa Hudson said the WACC rate determined was "far too high for a low-risk monopoly infrastructure asset...
  7. ↑ Baird, Lucas (19 March 2020). "Qantas, Virgin Australia running out of options". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 5 May 2023. Chief financial officer Vanessa Hudson was hopeful to announce the financing sometime over the next week, and Mr Joyce said lenders know Qantas is not at risk of collapsing.
  8. ↑ Whitley, Angus (8 March 2022). "Qantas Flags Higher Fares as Ukraine War Sends Oil Soaring". Bloomberg . Retrieved 5 May 2023. ...Qantas Chief Financial Officer Vanessa Hudson said in an interview with Bloomberg Television on Tuesday
  9. ↑ Housden, Tom (3 May 2023). "Vanessa Hudson: Qantas appoints first female CEO as Alan Joyce steps down". BBC News . Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  10. ↑ "Qantas has announced a new CEO to take over from Alan Joyce. Who is Vanessa Hudson?". ABC News. 2 May 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  11. ↑ Visontay, Elias; Barrett, Jonathan (2 May 2023). "Vanessa Hudson to replace Alan Joyce as Qantas CEO". The Guardian . Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  12. ↑ Cherney, Mike. "Qantas CEO Quits After Airline Allegedly Sold Tickets for Canceled Flights". WSJ. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  13. ↑ "Vanessa Hudson | 2023 Most Powerful Women". Fortune .
Business positions
Preceded by CEO of Qantas
2023–present		Incumbent
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.