Virgin Blue CEO John Borghetti has issued a memo to Virgin Blue staff outlining his new executive team, as well as plans to integrate the airline group’s long haul and short haul operations more closely.
Under the planned changes, V Australia’s operations will become integrated with those of Virgin Blue, reversing the current structure which sees V Australia operate as a standalone business within the Virgin Blue Group. The move will “increase accountability, remove duplication and create greater integration across our domestic and international network,” according to Borghetti.
As part of the changes, both carriers will now come under a new executive team, with V Australia general manager Scott Swift currently left without a defined role.
Another big change is the announcement by chief operating officer, now group executive operations, Andrew David that he will leave the airline by the end of the year. Meanwhile, chief commercial officer Liz Savage’s role has been recast as group executive of commercial, in charge of network and revenue management, while Martin Daley, who was recruited to Virgin Blue from Virgin Atlantic in early 2000, has been promoted to the role of group executive for product and guest services. Former Qantas head of government relations Jane McKeon will also form part of the executive management team as group executive of government relations.
The management changes and integration of V Australia comes as Borghetti is expected to announce a new brand for the Virgin Blue Group airlines, which also includes Pacific Blue and Polynesian Blue. It is expected that this will also come with other changes, such as the adoption of a dedicated business class cabin and other service enhancements aimed at making further inroads into the corporate and government travel markets.
