Qantas CEO Alan Joyce to leave airline by end of 2023 as ex-Air NZ boss Cameron Wallace joins race

A third hat has been thrown into the ring in the race for a potential new boss of Qantas as Alan Joyce prepares to step down as chief executive by the end of the year.

The airline announced on Monday Cameron Wallace, the former Air New Zealand customer and chief com­mercial officer, had been appointed as the CEO of Qantas International and Freight.

Mr Wallace will begin his new role on July 1 after an extensive two-decade career in the aviation industry in the Asia Pacific region.

His appointment has raised speculation Qantas may be gearing up for a new CEO, with Qantas Loyalty chief Olivia Worth and CFO Vanessa Hudson also in the running to replace Mr Joyce.

Mr Joyce, who’s held the role of CEO since 2008, said last week he plans to stay on until at least the end of this year.

Qantas chairman Richard Goyder also said late last year that Mr Joyce would serve as the airline’s CEO ‘until at least the end of 2023’. 

The airline announced on Monday Cameron Wallace, the former Air New Zealand customer and chief com­mercial officer, had been appointed to the CEO of Qantas International and Freight

Andrew David who currently holds the role of CEO of Qantas Domestic and International will resign in September, with the job title split in two ‘as each business welcomes new aircraft and expands its network’.

Mr Joyce said Mr Wallace was ‘one of the best airline executives in the region’ in Monday’s announcement.

‘He brings over two decades of airline experience including his long career at Air New Zealand, with responsibilities spanning sales, revenue management, market development, alliances and cargo,’ he said.

‘Cam is inheriting a very talented team and will add to the depth of experience on our Group Management Committee.’

Another CEO contender, Ms Hudson, has worked for the airline for 28 years and has held her role as CFO since October, 2019.

Olivia Wirth, the chief executive of Qantas Loyalty, is another front runner for the top job

Ms Hudson said she was ready to step up into the top job last March.

‘If the Board were to give me the opportunity to step into Alan’s shoes, I would be incredibly honoured and proud to do that,’ she told Bloomberg. 

Ms Wirth, another frontrunner, has been with the airline for 13 years, and was promoted to Qantas Loyalty CEO in March, 2018.

She oversees the Frequent Flyer program in her role. 

Qantas last week posted an interim underlying pre-tax profit of $1.43 billion, in its first return to profitability since the Covid pandemic started three years ago. 

Vanessa Hudson has worked for the airline for 28 years and has held her role as CFO since October, 2019