Qantas Chairman Richard Goyder quits and makes a startling six-word admission after CEO Alan Joyce’s resignation

Qantas Chairman Richard Goyder has announced he will be retiring next year after five years in the role, while admitting the airline was facing ‘significant reputational and customer service issues’.

The airline said Mr Goyder would be stepping down prior to the company’s annual general meeting in late 2024.

‘Qantas has gone through an incredibly difficult period since our operation was grounded during the pandemic. The recovery has not been easy, and mistakes were made,’ Mr Goyder said.

‘We again apologise for those times where we got it wrong. I have always sought to act in the best interests of Qantas. 

‘Measured and orderly succession at Board level will support the important work underway led by Vanessa and her new management team. 

‘Fundamentally, the Group is in a very strong position to overcome its current challenges and deliver for all its stakeholders in the years ahead.’

Mr Goyder’s resignation comes a month after CEO Alan Joyce quit. Mr Joyce had brought forward his planned retirement by two months. 

Five directors, including current CEO Vanessa Hudson, will compete in an election at this year’s AGM for the chairman role. 

Mr Goyder was appointed the role of chairman in October, 2018. 

Last month, Qantas bosses were grilled at a parliamentary committee that heard Australians would have benefitted from cheaper airfares by Christmas if the government didn’t block competitor Qatar Airways from adding another 28 routes.

The parliamentary committee looked into what role Qantas played in the transport minister’s decision to knock back Qatar Airway’s application.

Mr Goyder, who previously steered Wesfarmers though the 2008 global financial crises, has seen growing calls from pilots and shareholders for him to resign

Qantas chairman Richard Goyder and new CEO Vanessa Hudson appeared before the committee to address the mounting criticism while Mr Joyce was overseas.

Mr Goyder, who previously steered Wesfarmers though the 2008 global financial crises, has seen growing calls from pilots and shareholders for him to resign.

However, he had assured the committee he was the right person to lead Qantas forward and believed he had the confidence of ‘major shareholders’.

‘I have had meetings with our major shareholders two weeks ago, and they are very strongly supportive of me staying, and I would also argue my history in business has been one of high ethics, looking to create value for all our stakeholders,’ he said.

He added neither he, not any other Qantas board member, had lobbied the government to block Qatar Airway’s application for more flights. 

Qantas has also been plagued by other issues, including the fact the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is taking the airline to Federal Court, claiming it sold tickets on thousands of already-cancelled flights.

Meanwhile, the High Court last month agreed the airline’s sacking of 1700 workers during the Covid pandemic was illegal under the Fair Work Act.

More to come