Jackson says new Qantas boss likely to be in-house
A report by Glenda Korporaal in The Australian says that outgoing Qantas Chairman Margaret Jackson says an insider should be chosen to replace chief executive Geoff Dixon when he retires in 2009.
Speaking to The Australian on the eve of her retirement as Qantas chairman, Ms Jackson said her “bias” was for the next chief executive to come from inside the company.
Mr Dixon, 68, this year agreed to stay on as chief executive until at least July 2009.
“It is most likely that the next chief executive will come from within the corporation,” Ms Jackson said.
Having a new chairman in former Rio Tinto chief executive Leigh Clifford, who did not come from the aviation industry, would add to the pressure to put someone with industry experience in the top job.
It would be difficult at the moment to find an executive who had a level of experience equal to those in the top ranks of Qantas, she said.
“It’s hard to look around the world and find other carriers that have done as well as Qantas.
“Because of those factors, it is most likely to be an internal candidate.”
The top internal candidates for the job include chief financial officer Peter Gregg, executive general manager John Borghetti and Jetstar chief executive Alan Joyce.
Ms Jackson, who is leaving after 15 years on the Qantas board, said she expected the board to seek candidates outside the airline.
“You can never predict”. “Sometimes you find an outstanding candidate around the world that you hadn’t thought of, but I would have thought it is more likely to be a domestic individual who is currently within Qantas.”
Ms Jackson said Mr Clifford was taking over as chairman of a company that was “in very strong financial shape”.
“It’s in a strong strategic position, it has great products, it has two fabulous brands and a sensational management team.”
At today’s annual meeting former Prime Minister’s Department head Mike Codd is standing for re-election as a Qantas board member.
Ms Jackson said Mr Codd had been due to retire from the board this year but would stay on to assist a smooth transition to the new chairman.
Ms Jackson said the challenges facing Qantas, including this year’s failed bid by private equity consortium Airline Partners Australia, had made it stronger.
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