Qantas Executives To Be Assessed

Almost a year after Qantas decided to split its international and domestic operations, high-level business consultants have been brought in at the company as part of the its measures to assess its executive teams and operations.

According to BusinessDay, the consultants have been in meetings with the company’s senior executives for the past several weeks now and have been tasked to look into the operating structure of Qantas International CEO Simon Hickey and Qantas Domestic chief executive Lyell Strambi.

Mr. Hickey, however, has been on leave for two months, prompting rumours that the consultants’ arrival may also have deal with succession planning. Qantas’ chief Executive, Mr. Alan Joyce, is also supposed to have been working five years for the company by November. Apart from Mr. Hickey, Mr. Strambi and another excecutive, Mr. Jayne Hrdlicka, are said to become possible successors.

It’s no surprise for the company to hire consultants, though, as they have done this more than once in the past, with Bain & Company. This time, however, consultants brought in are from a different firm.

Qantas’ split in its operations last year became one of the biggest changes for the company, and was seen largely as a move to help improve its performance. Many, however, are concerned that the separation only created duplication of senior executive roles.

Meantime, Qantas isn’t confirming nor denying that there are consultants presents. The company has stressed, however, that there are no duplication of roles among its senior executives.