Should Qantas replace Alan Joyce?

Should Qantas replace Alan Joyce? Does his background in LCC make him unsuited to a legacy carrier, especially one with such a strong national identity?

I'd like to hear more on this question because it is a good one. In some ways, you really have to feel sorry for him for what he put up with back in the inustrial action. I dont think he really has what it takes to run a fully fledged airline that aims to be the best airline in the world. Qantas is far from it. The solution may be to get a new CEO. Who thinks so?

From the perspective of the business traveller, Alan Joyce is working hard to deliver a cost effective and seamless travel experience for the business traveller while maintaining a premium for the brand.  The NextGen checkin, iPad streaming, reducing the risk of industrial action etc. are just part of this.  His success will be demonstrated at the next AGM.

At this point in time, I think he's doing a good job turning a former government agency into a lean airline that is recognised as the best in Australia.

Two observations:

- is a lean airline a good airline, adopting a robust definition of "good"?

- is best in Australia an accolade that counts for much?

A lean - ie one that doesn't have the fat of the past, is important.  If Qantas is to remain in front of Virgin, it must be efficient and effective in order to not go bust.

Also, noting that Qantas' key market is Australia, if they aren't the best in their market as the Flag Carrier, their brand is dead.

Qantas is doing some world beating stuff right now with the NextGen checkin in particular.  Tap card, place bag on conveyorbelt and go is world beating stuff, and a lot more convenient than standard checkin.

A change in leadership is the last thing QF needs right now. While I might not agree with everything that Alan Joyce has done, I think the issue is the airline rather than the person. I'm not convinced that any CEO, from legacy or LCC roots, could have done a much better job with what QF is today. 

But does this beg the question - is QF what it is today because of Alan Joyce? Or is it the Board that needs to be revitalised?

The assumption here is that Qantas is not meeting the needs of the Business Traveller, and that either the CEO or the Board need changing.

Wilsoni - can you please explain what it is that is concerning you about the Qantas experience.  My two key gripes are:

• that the fact that unless I fly transcontiental, I'm stuck with Jetstar to get connect with another flight of theirs in Singapore.
• When landing in Sydney on a red-eye, cabin crew nsist on feeding you.  Give me a coffee voucher for when I'm off the plane - JUST LET ME SLEEP!

My intention has been to instill an objective discussion, without reference to my own personal views. Nonetheless it must be clear from my starting such a discussion that I may not be satisfied with QF, and that is indeed the case. Rather than listing what might become something longer than Gone With The Wind, let me just express a general opinion. I do not think Qantas is doing anywhere near enough to compete in quality with non-Australian carriers. I think that has been a feature of management under Joyce. Sure there have been "gimmicks", but it seems to me that core values have slipped mightily. Most changes in QF over the past 3 years have been designed to produce, and have resulted in, cost savings through mediocrity.  This improves the bottom line, but it does not attract passengers who can get lower fares and higher quality elsewhere.

Alan Joyce has been CEO for 3 years... He hasn't shaped the past 15 years of the company's history, which are the years that have brought them where they are today...

Qantas is where it is today because of it's history, because it's a publically listed company (ie not government owned) and because of the incredibly difficult trading market that they are faced with.

The fact that QF is finding it hard to make money wouldn't be any different if John Borghetti or anybody else was CEO. In fact, it could be argued that QF would be in a far worse position today (and in 2-5 years time) if the Board hadn't elected to appoint somebody who would cop the negative publicity and do what is right in the long term for the survival of the company.

I'm not saying that Alan Joyce is perfect, I am just inclined to see beyond the media speculation, and recognise that there is a very talented and experienced Board supporting him, and that the vast majority of shareholders do as well.

Yes, Alan Joyce has done an alright job - but as others have mentioned past mgmt has left Qantas in pretty good stead - let's not forget Geoff Dixon's reign, which saw a real transformation in Qantas' product/aircraft etc.

Then there is the board, which in the past oversaw the Qantas PE bid, and Margaret Jackson implied that shareholders who didn't accept the offer were stupid when mgmt were set to benefit big time. 

Finally on Alan Joyce though, he might be doing a good job on driving down costs - but the best businesses out there understand that employees should rank first - look after them and they'll look after your business - and I don't get the impression that he feels this. If he did, he wouldn't have gotten himself into the acrimonious standoff last year. Plus, he wouldn't be making the arrogant "the grounding was good for the brand comments" either.

look at who is on the board & their history with unions. I feel that joyce is there to do the dirty work & the board is setting him up & when they have finished he will be out on his ear.