Dave Emerson has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Virgin Australia, succeeding Jayne Hrdlicka who announced her intention to retire last year.
Emerson currently serves as Virgin Australia’s Chief Commercial Officer, a role he has held since June 2021.
He will begin his transition into the CEO role immediately and will formally assume the role on Friday March 14, with Hrdlicka continuing to support as needed over the coming months.
Throughout his 25 years of experience in the aviation and tourism industries, working alongside global airlines, Dave has earned an international reputation for delivering business transformation and excellent financial results.
“After a global search, it was clear that Dave is the right leader to continue the implementation of Virgin Australia’s strategy,” said Virgin Australia Chairman, Ryan Cotton.
“Detailed plans are in place which will deliver continued growth, strong business performance, and continuity of strategy further enhancing Virgin Australia’s competitive position in the Australian market.
“Dave also appreciates what is special about Virgin Australia – our team and our people – and will continue to act as a steward of our amazing culture.
“We are confident Dave will not miss a beat in leading continued strong performance and growth across our business.”
Cotton thanked Jayne for her exceptional leadership of the company during challenging times.
“Jayne has been tireless in her mission to lead this company back to greatness,” he said.
“Virgin Australia is in an excellent position for the future thanks to her leadership through some of the most difficult times in our industry.
“Jayne shared with us all a vision for the role Virgin Australia could play in Australian aviation and has led the rebuilding of every aspect of our airline to ensure that we could deliver great outcomes for our people and our customers while also delivering significant returns to shareholders. We are sad to see her go, and she leaves with our deepest appreciation and gratitude for a job well done.”
Incoming CEO Dave Emerson said he is humbled by the opportunity to lead the airline and its 8,000-strong team.
“I have experienced firsthand the remarkable journey over the past four years as we have reinvented Virgin Australia,” he said.
“We exist for our customers, but it is our people who are the heart of this organisation. They are central to our brand and our key differentiator in the highly competitive Australian aviation landscape.”
Hrdlicka described her time at Virgin Australia as a “career highlight” and a “huge privilege”.
“I could not be more proud of how much we have achieved together as a team,” she said.
“Today, Virgin Australia is the most reliable airline, the most trusted and the most loved airline in the country and is delivering exceptional returns for its shareholders.
“We have detailed plans in place for the next four years which support a very bright outlook for Virgin Australia Group. It is now the perfect time to transition leadership for this next chapter. Dave is an excellent choice to succeed me as CEO.
“He has proven himself as a strong leader and has been a key contributor to Virgin Australia’s successful transformation journey. His breadth of experience will be invaluable to the company and he brings the added advantage of being part of the team that created our blueprint for continued improvement in both profitability and growth.”