Dave Emerson Appointed as New Virgin Australia CEO

Emerson will be succeeding Jayne Hrdlicka, who announced her decision to step down in February 2024.

The Virgin Australia logo in an airport in Perth, Western Australia, on Oct. 24, 2024. Susan Mortimer/The Epoch Times

Virgin Australia has named Dave Emerson as its new chief executive officer, succeeding Jayne Hrdlicka, who announced her decision to step down in February 2024.

Emerson, currently serving as the airline’s chief commercial officer since June 2021, will formally assume the role on March 14.

He will begin transitioning immediately, while Hrdlicka remains available to support the handover over the coming months.

With 25 years of experience in aviation and tourism, Emerson has helped shape Virgin Australia’s market position as a carrier focused on value and choice.

Board Backs Emerson for Future Growth

Virgin Australia Chairman Ryan Cotton expressed confidence in Emerson’s ability to lead the company into its next phase of growth.

“After a global search, it was clear that Dave is the right leader to continue the implementation of Virgin Australia’s strategy,” Cotton said.

“Dave has been a core part of the team, developing our plans for transformation and growth of the business, with our team and customers very much at the core. He is well-respected right across our organisation.”

Cotton also acknowledged Hrdlicka’s contributions, highlighting her leadership in guiding the airline through administration, post-COVID recovery, and its expansion into long-haul international flights.

“On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Jayne for her exceptional leadership of the company. She has been tireless in her mission to lead this company back to greatness.”

Strong Financial Performance Under Hrdlicka’s Leadership

The leadership change follows Hrdlicka’s final financial update to staff, where she announced Virgin Australia’s half-year underlying earnings of $439 million from $3 billion in revenue.

This marks a significant increase from the previous corresponding period when the airline reported a half-year profit of approximately $236 million from $2.8 billion in revenue.

Virgin Australia is owned by private equity firm Bain Capital, which played a key role in its recovery after administration. The airline has since strengthened its operations and profitability, setting the stage for continued expansion.

The leadership transition comes just a day after the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) report found Virgin Australia to have one of the highest gender pay gaps among leading Australian companies, at 45.2 percent.

Emerson Looks Ahead, Hrdlicka Reflects on Her Legacy

Emerson said he was humbled by the opportunity to lead Virgin Australia and its 8,000-strong workforce.

“I have experienced firsthand the remarkable journey over the past four years as we have reinvented Virgin Australia. 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,” he said.

Hrdlicka described her time at Virgin Australia as one of the highlights of her career.

“I could not be more proud of how much we have achieved together as a team. 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,” she said.