Former Qantas executive Rob Gurney has been appointed to a senior role with the Flying Kangaroo’s alliance partner Emirates.
Gurney will start on October 1 as Emirates’ divisional vice president for commercial operations in Australasia, the airline said in a statement on Friday. He replaces Bryan Banson, who is leaving the Dubai-headquartered carrier on October 10.
“The appointment will see him responsible for Emirates’ operations within one of its top three regions in terms of revenue and passenger traffic,” Emirates said.
“He will manage the key areas of Australia and New Zealand and will also assume local responsibility for Emirates’ partnership with Qantas.”
Gurney spent more than a decade at Qantas, most recently as group executive for commercial and freight before leaving the company following a corporate restructure in May 2012.
His most recent position was chief executive of travel company Helloworld, which he held for 18 months before suddenly resigning in April 2014.
Qantas holds a 29 per cent stake in Helloworld, which previously operated under the Jetset Travelworld, Harvey World travel and Travelworld brands.
Emirates divisional senior vice president of commercial operations east Barry Brown thanked Banson for his “sterling contribution as he passes the ‘baton’ to Rob with Emirates in excellent shape in the South Pacific”.
