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.
A Report by The Mole
John Alwyn-Jones
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Global tourism exceeds 1.5 billion travelers announces UN-Tourism
Qatar Airways offers reduced timetable to over 60 destinations
WTTC global tourism reached record economic impact of 11 trillion in 2025
Marginal increase for New York City tourism in 2025
Hands In, UATP join forces for airline multi-card payments