Qantas Chairman Leigh Clifford today announced that Richard Goyder AO has agreed to join the Board of Qantas Airways Limited as a non-executive director in October 2017.
Mr. Goyder will seek election to the Qantas Board at the Qantas Annual General Meeting on 27 October 2017 and, if approved by Qantas shareholders, will commence his duties as a director after stepping down as the CEO of Wesfarmers in November 2017.
Mr. Clifford said Mr. Goyder’s experience at the highest level of Australian business would strengthen the Board at an important time for the national carrier.
“Richard has led one Australia’s largest and most diverse companies for more than 12 years, through a period of significant change and growth,” Mr. Clifford said.
“As well as his achievements with Wesfarmers, he’s respected as a clear voice for the business community on broader economic and policy issues. Having his knowledge and perspective on the Board will be a great asset as we continue to deliver for Qantas’ shareholders and customers.”
Mr. Goyder said:
“Very few companies have shaped Australia like Qantas, so it’s an honor to be asked to join its Board. I’ve admired the way that the management team led by Alan Joyce has repositioned the Group over the past few years, and it’s clear that Qantas has an exciting future with some big opportunities ahead. I hope to make a contribution to that next chapter.”
Having first joined Wesfarmers in 1993, Richard Goyder was appointed Deputy Managing Director and CFO in 2004. He assumed the role of Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer in July 2005.
He is chair of the AFL Commission and a director of Gresham Partners Holdings Limited, the Business Council of Australia and The University of Western Australia Business School Advisory Board. Between February 2013 and December 2014, he was Chairman of the Australian B20 (the key business advisory body to the international economic forum, which includes business leaders from all G20 economies). He is the incoming Chairman of Woodside Petroleum from April 2018.
Goyder is also Chair of JDRF Australia and a Fellow of AICD.